Despite a framework nuclear deal being reached between Iran and the P5+1 nations (representatives of all countries in the negotiations pictured here) earlier this month, Iran has said it will not allow the IAEA nuclear watchdog to re-inspect its Parchin military base. Photo: U.S. Department of State.

JNS.org – Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesperson for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said the Islamic Republic will not allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog to inspect its Parchin military base for a second time.

“They (the IAEA) have been raising the issue for years. It is important for their propaganda. They know we will not allow them to visit the Parchin base again, but they think raising the issue benefits the propaganda,” Kamalvandi said at a news conference in Tehran, Reuters reported.

The West has suspected Iran of using the Parchin base for nuclear weapons research, while Iran claims Parchin is an ordinary military base that is not involved in nuclear research.

“In a meeting between [Iranian] President [Hassan] Rouhani and [IAEA chief] Yukiya Amano, President Rouhani reminded him that, ‘When you requested to visit the facilities in Parchin for the first time, I said yes, you can go to Parchin and everywhere else, and you can collect samples. But it can be allowed just for once as it is a military base. A second visit will not happen,'” said Kamalvandi.

The remarks come shortly after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that America is responsible for creating the “myth” of Iran’s nuclear weapons in order to portray the country as a threat.