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Iran bars UN inspectors from military sites
Several Western diplomats on the board of the UN nuclear watchdog accused Iran of barring the UN inspectors from military sites, though Tehran said that the agency was getting full access inside the Islamic republic. Diplomats who follow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said IAEA inspectors had been prevented from inspecting around a dozen workshops at three locations. "They have yet to allow access to the military sites," one Western diplomat said. "This will probably be the topic of one of the inspection visits" by IAEA officials. | "Right after we decide on the shape of the table." |
"Iranian officials have been obstructing visits to military sites," said another diplomat, adding that the UN inspectors were being escorted by members of Iranâs Revolutionary Guards. The United States says Iran has two nuclear programmes, a public one it has declared to the UN and a secret one aimed at developing atomic weapons. Tehran rejects this charge, saying its plans are limited to the peaceful generation of electricity. | "Cuz the price of oil is so high we need nuclear weapons, er, power" |
Iranâs ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna, Pirooz Hosseini, denied that the IAEA was facing access problems. "This is not correct information...from these unnamed diplomats," Hosseini told Reuters, adding that there were "discussions" between Tehran and the UN about bribes site access. "Theyâre not problems. The IAEA will have access to the sites they want to visit. Everything is going in a smooth way." IAEA officials declined comment. | The Black Turbans are making it tough for even their friends in the IAEA to look the other way. |
Posted by: Steve 2004-05-25 |
