Ryabkov: IAEA not authorized to inspect Iran military sites

Speaking to TASS news agency on Saturday, Ryabkov said: 'I would like to say absolutely clear and directly that acquiring some false topicality the theme of the IAEA work on Section T of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) over the Iran nuclear program has no topicality for us although it is a talking point now.'

In particular, Moscow says that the IAEA 'has not been authorized to carry out such inspections and cannot be tasked because Section T highlights the issues out of the agency’s competence,' Ryabkov said.

'Nevertheless, we can hear another thing. As in the issue of the Iran missile program, some of our counterparts prefer to call black white and vice versa,' the Russian foreign minister said. 'We cannot get them to understand this evident logic and obvious truth.'

'Since they are insisting, we say if you cannot do without discussions on the theme, it should be raised at the Joint Commission when the next session is convened,' Ryabkov said.

Addressing a group of outstanding university students and Olympiad winners last Wednesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said, 'Europe’s emphasis on maintaining the nuclear agreement (JCPOA) is simply not enough.'

The Leader went on to offer a strategy: First, Europe must oppose moves by the US; second, Europe must avoid intruding into our defensive affairs. If they ask questions like, 'why Iran is active in the region?'--well, it is none of their business. Or if they ask, 'why does Iran have missiles?'--then, our response is, 'why do they have missiles and nuclear weapons?'

In a final statement, Ayatollah Khamenei warned, 'We won't accept Europeans singing along to the American's coercive words.'

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