Think tank: Iran cleaning up suspected nuclear facility

A think tank says Iran might have conducted further clean-up activity at its Parchin military site, where Iran is suspected of testing nuclear materials and has thus far refused to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to visit.

The Institute for Science and International Security, a Washington think tank, posted Wednesday satellite images of the facility from June 7 that show “heavy machinery tracks and earth displacement throughout the site.”

“There is evidence of earth moving machinery and excavation activity near the second demolished building north of the building suspected to contain the high explosive testing chamber,” the report says.

ISIS said that the satellite images also show “a notable amount of water flow from nearby an object placed next to the alleged high explosive testing building.”

“The water flows into areas that have seen considerable activity due to heavy machinery traffic or earth removal, activities which appear likely to persist,” the group wrote.

The IAEA has previously said it suspects Iran is conducing nuclear tests and trying to hide their tracks at Parchin, and the agency has pushed for Tehran to allow inspectors to visit.

The ISIS report quoted IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano at a news conference this month, when he said that satellite images indicated evidence of cleaning up the facilities.

ISIS said its imagery, taken after the press conference, “confirms that the IAEA should be concerned that Iran is attempting to cleanse the site prior to allowing an IAEA visit.”

“Iran should immediately allow the IAEA access to Parchin and explain the significance of these apparent clean-up activities,” the think tank wrote.

The United States is involved in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, as six world powers — the permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany — have conducted three rounds of talks with Iran this year.

So far, however, they’ve yet to produce much in terms of substantive agreement, although the sides did agree to meet again in July.

Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, while the United States and its allies suspect Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

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