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IAEA Finishes Iran Report as EU Readies UN Push
 A report by the UN nuclear watchdog is expected to confirm Iran has resumed sensitive nuclear work, diplomats said, and EU officials meeting yesterday were ready to take steps leading to possible sanctions. The International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to deliver its latest report on Iranâs nuclear program to 35 nations on the agencyâs board of governors today or tomorrow, diplomats close to the agency said.The IAEA has been investigating Iranâs nuclear program for almost three years. It has found no hard evidence to back US allegations that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons but is not convinced Iranâs atomic ambitions are peaceful. The key element in the report from IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei will be confirmation that Iran has resumed work at a uranium processing plant at Isfahan, which Tehran mothballed under a November 2004 deal with France, Britain and Germany. Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful and has accused the EU of trying to deprive it of atomic energy. âThe report will not have a harsh tone, but it is expected to confirm that Iran ended part of the suspension,â a European diplomat told Reuters. âIt will also outline a number of open questions about Iranâs nuclear program.â The report should say Iranâs explanation that Pakistani contamination was behind traces of enriched uranium found on Iranian machinery is plausible, but also that questions remain about advanced centrifuge research that could be related to weapons activities and other issues, diplomats told Reuters. Posted by: Fred 2005-09-02 |
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