SEVEN-nation nuclear talks over Iran’s nuclear energy programme began in Vienna yesterday, as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to oppose foreign inspections of military sites.

Negotiators from Iran, the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany met to discuss lifting sanctions in return for Iranian assurances that it is not developing nuclear weapons.

A fact sheet on the framework accord issued by the US State Department said Iran would be required to grant the UN nuclear agency access to any “suspicious sites.”

But Mr Khamenei indicated that Washington is increasing its demands that international inspection of Iran’s military sites and interviews with Iranian scientists be included in the final deal.

Speaking to military leaders in Tehran, he said that allowing Iran’s “impudent and brazen enemy” to interrogate Iranian nuclear scientists would be an affront to Iran’s dignity.

“No inspection of any military site or interview with nuclear scientists will be allowed,” he said.