World powers put pressure on Iran for international inspection of 'nuke' military site

Vienna, Mar 9(ANI): The international community have stepped up pressure on Iran to let international inspectors visit a military site linked to suspected nuclear-weapons development.

World powers, including the U.S., China, Russia, France, the U.K. and Germany have said in a joint statement that Iran needs to enter into a "serious dialogue" to resove long-standing concerns about its nuclear program.

The statement highlights the stance taken by the six countries, who are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany, known as the P5+1,The Wall Street Journal reports.

Several Western diplomats have expressed doubts that diplomacy will resolve international concerns about Iran's nuclear program this year, and added that further sanctions and a realistic threat of military action might be necessary.

The U.S. maintained its harder stance in its own statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors.

"Iran's continued refusal to cooperate with the IAEA despite its requirement to do so further casts doubt on Iran's claims that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful," its statement said, adding that the lack of progress during recent IAEA delegation visits to Tehran strikes "at the heart of the international community's concerns, which is that Iran has carried out nuclear weapons-related activities in the past, and some of these activities may still be going on today."

IAEA diplomats had earlier accused Iran of destroying evidence showing that it carried out a nuclear-weapons development activity in Parchin military base.

IAEA officials have described Parchin as a "litmus test" for assessing Iran's willingness to assist the IAEA in determining whether the country is developing a technology for a nuclear weapon, diplomats briefed on IAEA safeguards strategy in Iran, said. (ANI)