Posted on 05/07/2003 9:37:28 AM PDT by ellery
A TOP Iranian official denied his country had a nuclear weapons program but told the UN that Iran was not willing to submit to tougher inspections of its facilities.
The US has accused Iran, which is building a centrifuge plant at Natanz in its south, of having secret plans to make nuclear weapons. It fears Iran could enrich weapons-grade uranium at the site.
But according to a diplomat who attended the meeting, Iran's atomic energy chief, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, told the International Atomic Energy Agency yesterday that Iran's nuclear program was "only for peaceful purposes".
Mr Aghazadeh told the UN's nuclear watchdog at the closed-door meeting that Iran needed the facilities to make nuclear fuel, the diplomat said.
Iranian officials have said they have nothing to hide as their nuclear program is only meant to generate electricity.
But in Washington, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the evidence collected by the IAEA, and even Iranian statements, pointed to a weapons program.
"Despite their protests, despite their claims, Iran is developing a full-scale nuclear program that it would not behove anybody to co-operate with," Mr Boucher said.
"And so we will keep making the case. We will keep making the point with the information that is available, and I would say increasingly available, that Iran's nuclear ambitions are much bigger than many had hoped."
In Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said there was no evidence that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons.
"Very sound evidence is needed to accuse anyone. So far, neither the US nor any other countries can present it," Mr Losyukov said.
He acknowledged Iran's nuclear program had some uncertainties, and that Moscow would work with Tehran to "add more transparency" to its program. As for Russian-Iranian nuclear co-operation, Mr Losyukov said the work was "strictly in line with IAEA norms".
Russia's nuclear co-operation with Iran has long been a contentious issue between Washington and Moscow.
The US claims that the technology and expertise Iran is gaining from Russia's construction of the $US800 million ($1.25 billion) Bushehr nuclear power plant could be used for a weapons program, and that Russian companies – perhaps without official permission – have transferred weapons technology to Tehran.
Mr Aghazadeh also faced "tough questioning" from the representatives of 10 countries, including the US, Britain, Japan, Canada, The Netherlands and France, the diplomat said.
The main controversy centred on the UN agency's request that Iran agree to more intrusive inspections. Washington has also urged Iran to agree to the tougher regime. However, Mr Aghazadeh reportedly said it would "depend on conditions . . ."
"It was very conditional," the diplomat said. The head of the IAEA visited Iranian nuclear sites in February and is due to report to the agency's board in June.
Washington claims Iran has tested nuclear material without declaring it to the UN agency, and is pushing the agency to declare Iran in non-compliance with its safeguards agreement.
IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said that "inspections and analysis" of Iran's nuclear sites were still under way, and the report to be delivered in June was not yet ready.
Shades of the Big Sleep -
"You can't prove that", says Eddie.
"It'll be just as bad for you if I prove it to myself", says Sam Spade, brandishing a revolver.
That makes me feel better - "only for PEACEFUL purposes". I hear Al Queda (sp) wants them for "peaceful purposes" too.
"Any nation that harbors or supports terrorism will be regarded by the United States as 'hostile.'" - G.W.B.
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