Iran Postpones UN Nuclear Inspection Mission
March 12, 2004
AFX
Ample News
VIENNA -- Iran has put off an inspection mission from the UN nuclear watchdog that was due to arrive this week, according to the Iranian ambassador to the IAEA.
He said that "due to the approaching of the Iranian New Year we asked them to come later."
The ambassador said no new date had been set.
IAEA officials refused to comment on the inspection mission.
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi had threatened the country may end its cooperation with the IAEA unless it stopped being "influenced by the Americans".
However Hosseini said the delay in the inspection mission was not politically motivated.
He said that people will be out of their offices, since when the Iranian new year begins next week "there are five or six days of official holiday and then schools are closed for 15 days and parents take off to be with their children."
Nevertheless a diplomat close to the IAEA said: "of course it's political", and added that "the delay in inspections will definitely slow down what the IAEA is trying to do."
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