VIENNA, Sept. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) criticized Iran Friday for its failure to cooperate fully with the the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog.
In a comprehensive report on Tehran's nuclear program, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said that after two years' inspections, the 35-member organization remains unsure whether or not Tehran has secrete nuclear activities or materials.
The report complained that UN inspectors were not given full cooperation in Iran as they have no access to certain sensitive areas. The IAEA urged Iran to be more transparent on its nuclear program.
The report is also critical of Tehran's refusal to heed IAEA's call for a halt to all uranium enrichment activities, which are feared to be applicable to the making of atomic bombs.
ElBaradei had been scheduled to present the report on Saturday, but the report was revealed late Friday by media in Vienna.
The report said Iran has not yet used the gas pumped out for its uranium enrichment activities, which were restarted last month.
The cycle of uranium conversion begins with changing raw uranium into gas, which is then spun by centrifuges into enriched uranium.
The IAEA board of governors demanded Iran resume suspension of all enrichment-related activities, and asked ElBaradei to report on Tehran's compliance by Sept. 3. The board will meet again on Sept. 19 to discuss how to respond to ElBaradei's report.
In Tehran, Iran said Friday it is willing to continue cooperation with IAEA despite its criticism.
"Iran will continue to cooperate with the agency, even though its report launched some criticisms on us which have no legitimateor technical bases," said Ali Larijani, chief nuclear negotiator and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
Larijani also termed the IAEA report as containing both positive and negative factors.
Iran restarted uranium conversion plant in Isfahan on Aug. 8 after it turned down an EU offer of incentives in exchange for a permanent halt to all uranium enrichment activities.
Tehran, which suspended all enrichment related activities underan agreement in November 2004 to pave the way for negotiations with the EU trio of Britain, France and Germany, insists that it will never give up its legal right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Enditem |