Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he would refuse to allow a halt his nation’s nuclear research, and demanded an immediate end to sanctions upon signing a nuclear deal with the West, Reuters reported Tuesday.
“Freezing Iran’s Research and Development (R&D) for a long time like 10 or 12 years is not acceptable,” Khamenei said in a speech broadcast live.
Disputes over how much transparency Iran should offer to ease suspicions that it has covertly sought to develop nuclear bombs, and the timing and pace of relief from sanctions imposed on Tehran, have been two major sticking points to the final deal.
“All financial and economic sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council, the U.S. Congress or the U.S. government should be lifted immediately when we sign a nuclear agreement,” Khamenei said.
Khamenei also categorically ruled out international inspectors accessing military sites or interviewing nuclear scientists. Such actions are necessary to establish the extent of Iran’s past nuclear research and ensure that Iran cannot secretly develop a nuclear weapon.
Khamenei also tweeted out the main points of his speech.
Major red lines in #IranTalks include accepting some restrictions, but not for 10 or 15 yrs. R&D and constructions must continue.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2015
We do not accept unconventional, military inspections and interrogation of individuals.#IranTalks
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2015
All economic, financial & banking sanctions, either by UNSC, US Congress or administration must be lifted on same day deal is signed. 1/2
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2015
Other sanctions can be removed gradually by a reasonable timetable. 2/2
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2015
Many leading world figures, including International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Yukiya Amano and French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, have insisted that inspections of Iran’s military sites are essential to ensure a verifiable deal. However, Khamenei and other top Iranian officials have adamantly and consistently ruled out such inspections.
Senior Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, have also demanded the immediate end to sanctions upon signing deal. Experts have warned that such sanctions relief will allow Iran to boost its support of terrorism and will strengthen Iran’s hardliners at the expense of the moderates in government.
Khamenei has long stated that Iran would make no concessions on its “nuclear achievements.”
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