W.H.: Republicans Worried About AP’s Iran Report Don’t Believe in Climate Change
GARRETT: “The Associated Press last week published what [indecipherable] and what others observed to be a side agreement that was until its publication secret, indicating that Iran or Parchin would be able to inspect itself, collect soil samples itself, and be the only interlocutor with the IAEA about what happened there and what it means. What is the administration's reaction to that? Do you have any doubt in the authenticity of that side agreement that the Associated Press published and why should it not undermine this part of the understanding?”
EARNEST: “I think what undermines that contention are the on the record statements of the director general of the IAEA who indicated that this suggestion that there would be self-inspection of Iranian nuclear facilities, or Iranian military facilities, was misleading. The fact is that the arrangements between the Iran and the are sound and consistent with the IAEA long-established practice. The IAEA in developing this inspection plan did not compromise safeguarding standards in any way. Again, it continues to be our view that this agreement is not a side agreement and it’s not a secret one primarily because this administration went to great lengths to brief every member of Congress about the contents of the agreement, and now that we have seen what appears to be, or at least what the Associated Press has assessed to be a near final document that has been released, I think it's hard for people to make the case that this is somehow a secret agreement. What is true is that typically agreements between the IAEA and countries around the world are held confidential. and the IAEA has agreements like this with hundreds countries around the world, with more than hundredth countries around the world including the United States. The last --"
GARRETT: “So you believe that the IAEA will conduct its own independent inspection, and the Iranians would not be the ones extracting the soil, explaining what it means, and carry out the inspections?”
EARNEST: “Well, what I’m confident of is that the IAEA will get all access to all of he information they need and all the access to the site that they need in order to conclude their report. There are some Republicans in Congress who have suggested that the IAEA will not get enough access to the site in order to write that report. That’s a pretty bold statement, considering some of these same Republicans in Congress say they don't have enough scientific knowledge to determine whether or not climate change is actually occurring --[crosstalk] but yet somehow they claim to have enough knowledge of nuclear physics to assess what kind of access the IAEA needs to -"
GARRETT: "Who are not Republicans -- who are not proliferation experts have also raised questions about this --"[crosstalk]
EARNEST: “Again, [crosstalk] no, I wouldn't. I would say that --"
GARRETT: "[indecipherable]"
EARNEST: “What I am saying is that the IAEA has indicated that they need a certain amount of information and access in order to write their report and the United States, alongside our international partners, went to the Iranians and said that if you don't give the IAEA the access and information they need to write this report, you will not get sanctions relief. That is why I have quibbled with suggestion that somehow this is some sort of side agreement. In fact, we have made clear that this agreement in full is not going to go forward unless the IAEA gets the access and information they need in order to write this report about the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program. If the director general of the IAEA comes forward and says we have reached agreement with the Iranians to get all of the access we need that is consistent with our standards, that is consistent with long-established practice, then we can have confidence in their ability to make that assessment. And the good news is we will have the opportunity to read the report which they are planning to complete before the end of ..."
