Iran nuclear inquiry reaches 'dead end'
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been criticised over his country's nuclear programme
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Thursday, 26, Nov 2009 11:48
By Richard James.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced his investigation into Iran's nuclear programme has reached a "dead end" due to a lack of cooperation from Tehran.
Mohamed ElBaradei also accused Iran of attempting to alter plans agreed by six world powers negotiating with Tehran that would see the majority of its enriched uranium shipped abroad to be safely converted into domestic fuel.
His comments came at the beginning of the IAEA's 35-nation board meeting, during which a resolution condemning Iran's continuing defiance to succumb to international pressure on its nuclear programme is expected to be voted on.
The five permanent members of the UN security council Britain, the US, Russia, China, France, and Germany (known collectively as the P5+1) are currently attempting to engage Iran in nuclear talks but the negotiation have reached something of a deadlock.
During the G20 summit in Pennsylvania earlier this year, Barack Obama, Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy publicly condemned Iran after it was revealed the Islamic Republic had constructed an enrichment plant in secret.
More to follow