The White House says it has confidence in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after a report emerged claiming that, under an agreement with the IAEA, Iran would be allowed to use its own inspectors to investigate a suspected nuclear site.
“We are confident in the agency's technical plans for investigating the possible military dimensions of Iran's former program, issues that in some cases date back more than a decade," said National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said on August 19.
The AP news agency reported that, under a confidential agreement with the IAEA, Iranian inspectors would inspect the nuclear site at Parchin, which is suspected of having been used for tests linked to the development of nuclear weapons.
Price said the confidential IAEA-Iran agreement was "unique to the agency's investigation of Iran's historical activities."
Reports on the details of the IAEA investigation led to immediate condemnation from critics of the nuclear deal with Iran.
"Congress must now consider whether this unprecedented arrangement will keep Iran from cheating," said Ed Royce (Republican-California), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a statement. "This is a dangerous farce."
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush also called the deal a "farce," adding: "Nuclear inspections of state sponsors of terrorism can't work on the honor system."