UN urges Iran to allow access as nuclear program talks continue
Source: Agencies |
May 15, 2012, Tuesday
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A SENIOR UN nuclear agency official urged Iran yesterday to allow access to sites, people and documents it seeks in its probe of suspicions that Tehran conducted secret research into nuclear weapons development.
The appeal came as International Atomic Energy Agency officials renewed talks with Iranian envoys aimed at persuading Tehran to allow IAEA experts to visit a suspect site at the Parchin military complex.
The agency believes that site was used by Iran to test multipoint explosives of the type that are used to set off a nuclear charge.
Iran denies such experiments and insists it has no plans to turn its civilian nuclear program to making weapons.
A computer-generated drawing obtained by The Associated Press from a country tracking Iran's nuclear program depicts a containment chamber that would be used for such work.
The IAEA has not commented, but Olli Heinonen, who was the senior official in charge of the Iran file until he left the IAEA last year, says the drawing is "very similar" to a photo he has seen and identifies as that of the Iranian chamber, adding even the colors of the two images match.
IAEA Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts said the agency was seeking Iran's cooperation, ahead of yesterday's talks at Iran's mission to the IAEA and other Vienna-based UN organizations.
"We are here to continue our dialogue with Iran in a positive spirit," Nackaerts told reporters.
"The aim of our two days (talks) is to reach an agreement on an approach to resolve all outstanding issues with Iran.
"In particular, clarification of the possible military dimensions remains our priority," Nackaerts said, adding: "It's important now that we can engage on the substance on these issues and that Iran let us access people, information, documents and sites."
The talks ended at mid-afternoon with neither side commenting. They were set to resume this morning.
The official who shared computer-generated drawing said it proves the chamber exists, despite Tehran's refusal to acknowledge it.
The appeal came as International Atomic Energy Agency officials renewed talks with Iranian envoys aimed at persuading Tehran to allow IAEA experts to visit a suspect site at the Parchin military complex.
The agency believes that site was used by Iran to test multipoint explosives of the type that are used to set off a nuclear charge.
Iran denies such experiments and insists it has no plans to turn its civilian nuclear program to making weapons.
A computer-generated drawing obtained by The Associated Press from a country tracking Iran's nuclear program depicts a containment chamber that would be used for such work.
The IAEA has not commented, but Olli Heinonen, who was the senior official in charge of the Iran file until he left the IAEA last year, says the drawing is "very similar" to a photo he has seen and identifies as that of the Iranian chamber, adding even the colors of the two images match.
IAEA Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts said the agency was seeking Iran's cooperation, ahead of yesterday's talks at Iran's mission to the IAEA and other Vienna-based UN organizations.
"We are here to continue our dialogue with Iran in a positive spirit," Nackaerts told reporters.
"The aim of our two days (talks) is to reach an agreement on an approach to resolve all outstanding issues with Iran.
"In particular, clarification of the possible military dimensions remains our priority," Nackaerts said, adding: "It's important now that we can engage on the substance on these issues and that Iran let us access people, information, documents and sites."
The talks ended at mid-afternoon with neither side commenting. They were set to resume this morning.
The official who shared computer-generated drawing said it proves the chamber exists, despite Tehran's refusal to acknowledge it.
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