NEWS: UN Nuke Watchdog Rejects Iran's Call to Close Case

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has rejected Iran's call to close the case on their nuclear program. Last October Tehran did not mentioned that it had designs for advanced centrifuges capable of producing highly enriched uranium for use in a nuclear reactor or, potentially, in an atomic weapon.
Unlike Libya, which admits having tried to develop an atomic weapon using technology from the same sources as Iran, Teheran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and has called on the IAEA to drop its case.

Reuters

"I am seriously concerned that Iran's October declaration did not include any reference to its possession of P2 centrifuge designs and related R&D (research and development), which in my view was a setback to Iran's stated policy of transparency," ElBaradei said.

He was addressing the board of governors of the U.N. watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as they opened a closed-door meeting which will consider how to proceed with Iran.

Iranian ambassador Pirooz Hosseini told reporters that Tehran was the victim of a "war of propaganda" and Iranian officials had been misquoted by the press last year as saying the October dossier was complete.

"At the time...we were not obliged to announce everything," he said, in remarks which contrasted with Iranian comments at the time.

Iran insists it is building a nuclear program purely to generate electricity. The United States accuses Tehran of systematic deception and says it is bent on acquiring nuclear weapons.

ElBaradei urged Tehran to ensure full transparency and help restore international confidence by "taking the initiative to provide all relevant information in full detail and in a prompt manner."

A senior Iranian official said Sunday that the IAEA should remove Iran from its agenda and confirm its innocence.

"The case concerning Iran's peaceful nuclear activities should be completely closed at the IAEA Board of Governors and removed from its agenda," Supreme National Security Council secretary Hassan Rohani said on state television.

Related ATSNN news articles
- Israel Cracks Iran Code. Reveals Iran's Nuclear Program
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Other Sources
- Khaleej Times Online

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[Edited on 8-3-2004 by Zion Mainframe]