Tuesday
Jun032008
IAEA: U.S. Obstructing Probe Into Iran
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 11:37AM
UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei says Washington has hampered the agency's investigations by denying Iran access to vital intelligence.
In his opening address to the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-member Board of Governors on Monday(6-2-08), the IAEA chief expressed regret that the agency 'had not made the progress it had hoped for'.
ElBaradei cited the IAEA's inability to provide Iran with copies of the intelligence documentation due to 'US concern about exposing its sources' as the reason for the impediment to the expected progress.
"The agency received much of the information ... only in electronic form and was unfortunately not authorized to provide copies to Iran," the IAEA director said.
"[The] release of documents that are not sensitive from the proliferation perspective, including those purportedly showing interconnections between the three categories of alleged studies, would clearly help the agency in its investigations," he expounded.
ElBaradei went on to note major developments regarding the verification of Iran's nuclear activities and called on the country to increase its cooperation with the agency.
"While substantial progress has been made ... it is essential that the agency be able to reach a conclusion regarding the nature of Iran's program at the earliest possible date," ElBaradei said.
"This depends primarily on Iran demonstrating the necessary transparency and providing full disclosure. I again urge them to be fully forthcoming in this regard," he added.
Iran has repeatedly asserted that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it is entitled to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and that has no intention to give up its inalienable rights.
The IAEA, in its latest report, certified the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in the country's nuclear activities.
"Iran has provided the Agency with access to declared nuclear material and has provided the required nuclear material accountancy reports in connection with declared nuclear material and activities," said the report.
In his opening address to the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-member Board of Governors on Monday(6-2-08), the IAEA chief expressed regret that the agency 'had not made the progress it had hoped for'. ElBaradei cited the IAEA's inability to provide Iran with copies of the intelligence documentation due to 'US concern about exposing its sources' as the reason for the impediment to the expected progress.
"The agency received much of the information ... only in electronic form and was unfortunately not authorized to provide copies to Iran," the IAEA director said.
"[The] release of documents that are not sensitive from the proliferation perspective, including those purportedly showing interconnections between the three categories of alleged studies, would clearly help the agency in its investigations," he expounded.
ElBaradei went on to note major developments regarding the verification of Iran's nuclear activities and called on the country to increase its cooperation with the agency.
"While substantial progress has been made ... it is essential that the agency be able to reach a conclusion regarding the nature of Iran's program at the earliest possible date," ElBaradei said.
"This depends primarily on Iran demonstrating the necessary transparency and providing full disclosure. I again urge them to be fully forthcoming in this regard," he added.
Iran has repeatedly asserted that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it is entitled to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and that has no intention to give up its inalienable rights.
The IAEA, in its latest report, certified the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in the country's nuclear activities.
"Iran has provided the Agency with access to declared nuclear material and has provided the required nuclear material accountancy reports in connection with declared nuclear material and activities," said the report.
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