UN official in Iran for nuclear talks gets hostile reception
Monday, 21 Apr 2008 14:05
The senior UN official received a hostile reception
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A senior UN official has received a hostile reception ahead of sensitive talks regarding Iran's nuclear activity.
Olli Heinonen, the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) deputy general arrived in Tehran today and is due to hold talks with Iran's deputy national security chief Javad Vaeedi later.
However, there are some that are unhappy with Mr Heinonen's visit, with the national newspaper Kayhan attacking the reasons for the trip.
"This trip is to complete a joint Israeli-US trick to provide phoney proof on Iran's nuclear activities," said an editorial in the paper today.
Mr Heinonen presented evidence at the IAEA in February that alleged Iran may be developing its nuclear programme to produce weapons.
"It is like a ridiculous play," claimed the editorial.
"He [Heinonen] opened the first act at the [IAEA] board of governors, in a play written by Israel and directed by the United States.
"And now during his trip here he will perform the second act. What is surprising is why our officials agreed to his trip."
Last week, during a new conference at the White House, US president George Bush and British prime minister Gordon Brown pledged to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.