THE TOWER
Zarif Lies About Results of IAEA Probe, Shattering Moderate Veneer
by David Gerstman
December 16, 2015

The recent vote to close the International Atomic Energy Agency’s investigation into Iran’s illicit nuclear work prompted Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Islamic Republic’s chief nuclear negotiator and foreign minister, to boast that the “fabricated problem” of Iran’s military nuclear program had come to an end. “Despite its pitfalls,” Zarif said, “the report by Mr. Amano clearly indicates that there has been no deviation from peaceful purposes in nuclear materials thus confirming that Iran has always abided by NPT [Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty] and its program has always been peaceful.” The relevant IAEA report, while deeply flawed, said nothing of the sort. In fact, the agency concluded that Iran had engaged in “a range of activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device.” This is certainly not an indication of “peaceful purposes.” While the decision to end the IAEA probe effectively allowed Iran’s efforts to develop a nuclear bomb go unpunished, the report’s findings clearly indicate that Iran grossly violated the terms of the NPT. READ MORE