Iran 'ignoring' UN nuclear restrictions
Iran defying United Nations demands to halt its uranium enrichment programme, International Atomic Energy Agency says
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Tuesday, 27, May 2008 11:27
Iran is refusing to abide by United Nations resolutions over its nuclear programme, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said.
The latest report from the UN agency's director general, presented to the IAEA board of governors and the UN security council, claims Tehran is defying demands to suspend uranium enrichment.
"Contrary to the decisions of the (UN) security council, Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities," Mohamed ElBaradei says in a leaked copy of the report.
Mr ElBaradei was asked on March 3rd to present a further report on Iran's nuclear programme within 90 days determining whether Iran had suspended its nuclear activities as stipulated in resolution 1737.
The resolution banned trade with Iran in any items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to the country's enrichment-related reprocessing or the development of nuclear-weapon delivery systems.
Further sanctions imposed in March called for the inspection of cargo suspected of carrying prohibited goods and tighter monitoring of financial institutions.
In his report Mr ElBaradei says "substantive explanations" are now needed from Iran.
"Iran has not provided the agency with all the information, access to documents and access to individuals necessary to support Iran's statements," he states.
"The agency is of the view that Iran may have additional information, in particular on high explosives testing and missile-related activities, which could shed more light on the nature of these alleged studies and which Iran should share with agency."
But a government source quoted in the state-backed news agency Fars claimed the report proved Iran's nuclear activities were peaceful.
"Once more it has been explicitly underlined that there has been absolutely no evidence regarding the diversion of Iran's nuclear activities or materials toward military purposes," the source said.