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Iran Inspections in 24 Days? Not Even Close
(Wall Street Journal) Hillel Fradkin and Lewis Libby - The Obama administration assures Americans that the Iran deal grants access within 24 days to undeclared but suspected Iranian nuclear sites. A close examination of the agreement reveals that its terms permit Iran to hold inspectors at bay for months, likely three or more. First, the IAEA tells Iran "the basis" of its concerns about a particular location. Iran then provides "explanations," a stage that has no time limit. The suspect site is likely to be remote, and Iran will say that it must gather skilled people and equipment to allay IAEA concerns. Iran may offer explanations in stages, seeking clarifications before "completing" its response. That could take a while. At this point the IAEA must provide written reasons for the request and only then do the supposed 24 days begin to run, but with the possibility of even more opportunities for delay. Mr. Fradkin is director of the Center on Islam, Democracy and the Future of the Muslim World at the Hudson Institute. Mr. Libby, a senior vice president at the Hudson Institute, served in the George W. Bush administration as assistant to the president.