Rubio: U.S. Inspectors Will Monitor Iran’s Nuclear Sites

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in an interview with Fox News that American inspectors will oversee Iran’s nuclear facilities under the terms of a developing agreement aimed at preventing military use of nuclear technology.

“There must be a U.S. presence on the ground,” Rubio said. “If you’re truly not building a nuclear weapon, there’s no reason to deny access to any site.” He added that one of the key failures of the Obama-era deal was the inability to inspect military facilities, which he said are exactly where secret weapons development is most likely to occur.

Rubio also referenced past intelligence showing that Iran previously operated a covert nuclear program that was not reported to international bodies.

The proposed inspections are expected to be a condition for U.S. support of the deal, which remains under negotiation.