UN Nuclear Inspectors Head for Iran
October 01, 2003
VOA News
VOA
U.N. nuclear inspectors are headed to Iran in another attempt to determine if the Islamic republic is seeking to develop atomic weapons.
The International Atomic Energy Agency team, led by Belgian Pierre Goldschmidt, is to meet with top Iranian officials on Thursday. Before leaving Vienna Wednesday, Mr. Goldschmidt said the team expects to make a lot of progress. His comments coincided with remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, who told reporters Tehran will do all it can to keep the IAEA from referring Iran's nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council.
Mr. Kharrazi promised greater cooperation with inspectors but also indicated Iran does not want to allow limitless inspections of its nuclear facilities without its right to enrich uranium being guaranteed.
The United States suspects Iran is enriching uranium to make nuclear bombs. Previous IAEA inspections revealed traces of weapons-grade uranium at two sites. Tehran blames the finds on contaminated equipment it imported from another country, and insists its nuclear activities are peaceful in nature.
Tuesday, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei warned that without full access, the inspectors will not be able to verify Tehran's statements to the agency's governing board. That board, in turn, would have to report to the U.N. Security Council for possible economic and diplomatic sanctions.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
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