TEHRAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Four inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in Iran early Sunday in order to visit Iran's newly-disclosed uranium enrichment plant near Qom, a Xinhua photographer said.
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in Iran on Oct.25, 2009, in order to visit Iran's newly-disclosed uranium enrichment plant near Qom.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The inspectors, who were expected to stay in Iran for two or three days, will visit the nuclear site near Qom later Sunday, according to their agenda announced earlier by the IAEA.
Last month, Iran confirmed that it is building a new nuclear fuel enrichment plant near the central city of Qom. In reaction, the IAEA asked Tehran to provide detailed information and access to the new nuclear facility as soon as possible.
Leaders of the United States, France and Britain have condemned Iran's alleged deception to the international community involving covert activities in the new underground nuclear site.
At a meeting between Iran and top envoys from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany in Geneva, Switzerland, on Oct. 1, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili promised that Tehran would soon open the facility near Qom to UN inspectors.
During a subsequent visit to Iran, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said on Oct. 4 that the UN nuclear watchdog would inspect Iran's new uranium plant near Qom on Oct. 25.
The inspection of the newly-disclosed uranium enrichment facility would be carried out in line with the nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement in Iran, ElBaradei said at a joint press conference in Tehran with Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
The United States and other Western powers suspect the program is aimed at producing nuclear-weapon material, but Tehran contends that the program has no military component and has steadfastly rejected calls to halt the effort.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday voiced its support for an proposal by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that the enriched uranium with a higher purity needed for research reactor in Iran would be produced abroad.
"We greatly appreciate IAEA Director General ElBaradei's skillful efforts and dedication to pursue this initiative of getting Iran to send out their low-enriched uranium to third countries," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told a news briefing. Full story
PARIS, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his counterpart of United States Barack Obama had a telephone conversation Friday on Iran nuclear issue.
According to the statement released by Elysee, the two sides have noticed their identical positions on the issue after the previous discussion between them on Oct. 14. Full story
