Iran said on Wednesday that "no nuclear activity whatsoever" has taken place at its military site of Parchin, which UN nuclear watchdog inspectors demanded last week to visit but were refused.
"No nuclear activity whatsoever has taken place on the Parchin site," the head of Iran's Nuclear Energy Organization, Fereydoon Abbasi Davani, was quoted by the official IRNA News Agency as saying after a cabinet session. "It is up to the country's military officials to decide any request by foreign nationals to visit Parchin," he added.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said last week it "continues to have serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program" following an unsuccessful visit to Teheran by a five-strong inspection team.
The inspectors, who visited on Feb 20 and 21, had asked to see the Parchin military base east of Teheran but Iranian officials rejected the request.
New sanctions
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insists that the Obama administration is moving swiftly to impose tough new sanctions on Iran amid concerns in Congress that the White House won't be aggressive enough in cracking down on financial institutions that do business with Teheran's Central Bank.
"What we are intending to do is to ratchet up these sanctions as hard and fast as we can, follow what's going on inside Iran, which seems to be a lot of economic pressures that we think does have an impact on decision-making," Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.
The first round of penalties under the far-reaching defense bill that President Barack Obama signed into law on Dec 31 went into effect on Wednesday, and lawmakers expected an announcement from the administration on the steps it plans to take to thwart Iran's disputed nuclear program. The United States, the European Union and others have slapped a rapid series of sanctions on Teheran. Congress added to the penalties late last year.
Questions:
1. What is the name of the military site?
2. When did the inspectors visit?
3. When was the defense bill signed into law by Obama
Answers:
1. Parchin
2. Feb 20 and 21
3. Dec 31
国内英语资讯:HKSAR chief executive vows greatest resolve to end violence
国际英语资讯:Protest-ridden Nicaragua resumes national dialogue
体坛英语资讯:Brazil beat Austria 3-0 in last World Cup warm-up match
国际英语资讯:Ethiopia PM vows not to harm Egypts share of Nile water
体坛英语资讯:Midfielder Fred to miss Brazils last World Cup warm-up match
体坛英语资讯:Colombia full-back Fabra to miss World Cup with knee injury
国内英语资讯:SCO leaders voice expectations of future cooperation
体坛英语资讯:Canadian teenager Andreescu defeats S.Williams to win US Open title
体坛英语资讯:Schalke extend contracts with Faehrmann, Nastasic
体坛英语资讯:Spain and Switzerland draw 1-1 in World Cup warm-up
国际英语资讯:Putin to meet senior DPRK official -- Kremlin
国际英语资讯:Saudi Arabia intercepts missile fired towards border city Jazan
国际英语资讯:Britain urges U.S. to reconsider diplomatic immunity for diplomats wife
国际英语资讯:G7 summit kicks off in Canada amid trade disputes between U.S., allies
国内英语资讯:Xi sends congratulatory letter to China Welfare Institute
国际英语资讯:Egypt changes defense, interior ministers in cabinet reshuffle
国内英语资讯:Chinas high-tech manufacturing industry sees rapid growth in Aug.
国内英语资讯:President Putin meets Chinese vice premier on cooperation
国内英语资讯:Hong Kong legislative council passes railway link checks co-location bill
体坛英语资讯:Iran to stun Morocco in 2018 World Cup, says Queiroz
体坛英语资讯:Pan storms to the lead in Zhuhai
体坛英语资讯:China sweeps medal board at FINA Diving World Cup
国际英语资讯:Iran to build nuclear propulsion system: atomic chief
国内英语资讯:Xi calls for efforts to boost innovation ability in economic and social development
国际英语资讯:Turkey slams European observation missions interim report on elections
体坛英语资讯:Olympiacos win Greek mens handball championship
国内英语资讯:Chinese State Councilor meets Turkish FM
国内英语资讯:SCO Qingdao declaration calls for common ground to face global challenges
体坛英语资讯:Stuttgart extend coach Korkuts contract to 2020
体坛英语资讯:Leaders Flamengo extend Brazilian Serie A winning run