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State Department Unaware of Reports Iran is Sanitizing Nuclear Sites

President Hassan Rouhani of Iran visits one of the country's nuclear plants / AP
August 5, 2015

State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said he was unaware of reports that claim Iran is sanitizing a suspected nuclear site on Wednesday.

Bloomberg reported that Congress has received evidence from the intelligence community that Iran is sanitizing a suspected nuclear military site at Parchin.

Toner was asked if the State Department has seen the report.

"The U.S. intelligence community has informed Congress of evidence that Iran was sanitizing its suspected nuclear military site at Parchin in broad daylight days after agreeing to the nuclear deal with world powers," the reporter said. "The new evidence, which is classified, satellite imagery picked up by U.S. government assets in mid and late July showed that Iran had moved bulldozers and other heavy machinery."

"I've not seen those reports until you just spoke to them," Toner said. "But, you know, we've been very clear that the joint agreement that we plan that you can't hide nuclear activity. There are traces that remain."

Toner clarified, saying that he could not elaborate.

"But I can't speak to that specific instance you're talking about," Toner said.

Skeptics of the nuclear agreement have concerns about confidential side deals between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency that detail the inspection procedures into Iran’s suspected nuclear sites such as Parchin.