Iranian lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to ban inspections of the country's military sites by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iranian Parliament (Majlis), in an open session on Sunday, unanimously approved a draft bill mandating th government to safeguard the country's nuclear rights, reported the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). Three Members of Parliament (MPs) out of 213 opposed the bill while 199 MPs supported it. Five MPs abstained.
The draft bill also seeks complete lifting of all sanctions against Iran as part of any final nuclear accord, reported the Associated Press. Some MPs reportedly chanted "death to America" during the parliamentary session.
"In line with safeguarding national interests [of Iran] and in compliance with the Safeguards Agreement of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, any outcome of nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 countries shall be valid as long as three requirements are met, the draft bill said noting that access to Iran's military, security and sensitive non-nuclear sites, documents and scientists is forbidden," according to Press TV.
Iranian parliament, however, added amendments that would renounce its own power to veto a deal between Iran and group of six nations, reported Radio Free Europe. Lawmakers also gave supervision (of nuclear deal/final draft of negotiations between Iran and P5+1) rights to Supreme National Security Council, a body consisting of officials appointed by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"We won't agree to a deal without that. We expect that there will be many voices and opinions on the difficult issues as we work towards a final deal. But our team is focused on what is happening in the negotiating room," a State Department official told Fox News.
The draft bill will further complicate nuke talks between Iran, United Nation's nuclear watchdog (IAEA) and P5+1 group - which consists of the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Russia and China if approved by country's constitutional watchdog Guardian Council. The nuclear negotiations between Iran and the six nation group are taking place in Vienna ahead of their self-imposed June 30 deadline.
