TEHRAN - Any access to or inspection of the country’s military sites under the pretext of a final nuclear deal is forbidden, Commander of Iran’s General Staff of Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said on Friday.

The national interests and security of the country require that under no treaty or protocol entrance to Iran’s military centers be granted to foreigners, Firouzabadi stressed, cautioning that all must be careful about this red line of the country.

The statement by the top general comes as Iran and the six major powers (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) are expected to finalize the draft text of a comprehensive nuclear deal by June 30.

----------- Cleric reiterates strong opposition to inspection of military sites

Addressing a huge gathering of worshippers in Tehran on Friday, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani also said the Islamic Republic will not allow any access to military centers or interview with the country’s nuclear scientists even in a “managed” form.

Movahedi Kermani denounced the idea of “managed access” to a list of Iranian military sites and interviews with the country’s nuclear scientists, saying, “The issue is a danger and should be prevented.”

“Is it possible that some individuals come [to Iran] and inspect our military and security centers… but fail to gather any information about our military secrets?”

“At least for me it is not clear whether such managed inspections are possible or not,” the cleric noted.

----------- Access to military sites is ‘unacceptable’

Also on Friday, Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad Ali Mousavi Jazayeri rejected speculation that the country would give access to its military sites under any potential nuclear pact with the 5+1 group.

“Inspection of [Iran’s] military sites is not acceptable for us and this condition should not be accepted in nuclear negotiations,” Mousavi Jazayeri told worshippers in Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan Province.

Back on April 9, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei categorically rejected foreign access to the country’s “security and defensive” centers under the pretext of nuclear monitoring.

Later on May 20, the Leader ruled out any request for interviews with Iranian nuclear scientists, describing it as an instance of “interrogation”.

“I would not allow foreigners come [here] and talk to the Iranian nation’s dear scientists..., who have expanded this wide knowledge to this stage,” Ayatollah Khamenei stressed.

MD/P