IAEA puts pressure on Iran over nuclear sites
The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog has urged the Iranian government to sign up to additional international agreements on nuclear controls.
Taking a diplomatic tone Mohammed El-Baradei said that in order to enhance his agency’s ability “to provide credible assurances regarding the peaceful nature of [Iran’s] nuclear activities” its leaders should sign an additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
His comments to the International Atomic Energy Agency board in Vienna were echoed by EU foreign ministers, who called for greater compliance.
In his statement, Mr. El-Baradei noted that Iran had failed to report “certain nuclear material and activities” to the IAEA, although he added that the government was now working with inspectors to redress the problem.
Today’s report, which is the result of inspections by the IAEA since Mr. El-Baradei’s visit to Iran in February, also pointed out that work was still ongoing to ascertain whether or not allegations made against the country – largely by the United States – were founded.
The US demonstration has claimed that Iran – part of the so-called ‘axis of evil’ – is pursuing a secret weapons programme.
Technical discussions, inspections and environmental sample analysis by the IAEA will continue, but the additional protocol, would give inspectors wider access – and at short notice – to nuclear sites.
