Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/16/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IAEA/IRAN (L-O)

NUMBER=2-304387

BYLINE=MELANIE SULLY

DATELINE=VIENNA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The International Atomic Energy Agency has called for Iran to allow stricter inspections to dispel fears that it is secretly building nuclear weapons. Iran says it is considering the request. Melanie Sully reports from Vienna, where a closed meeting of the agency's board of governors is in progress.

TEXT: The agency's director general, Mohamed ElBaradei, told the board that Iran has failed to report storage and use of nuclear material, but that the Iranian authorities are taking what he called corrective action.

The I-A-E-A has sent inspectors to nuclear facilities in Iran on a regular basis since February.

But agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming says Mr. ElBaradei wants more transparency from the Iranians.

/// FLEMING ACT ///

There are still some open questions that the I-A-E-A is continuing to investigate in Iran, and is conducting more inspections, and is taking what is called environmental sampling that can basically provide very exact information on whether nuclear material was introduced into a facility. And, it is going to need a little more time to do that. His (ElBaradei's) report also called on Iran to sign what is called an Additional Protocol, which is a legal agreement that would give I-A-E-A inspectors considerably more access to sites and information

/// END ACT ///

Iran's nuclear agency says it is considering the I-A-E-A request. The French news agency reports from Tehran that an official spokesman said the issue is being studied with, what he called, a positive approach.

Iran says its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, but the United States says Iran has not declared enrichment activities that could be used to make nuclear bombs.

The I-A-E-A's 35-member board of governors is meeting all week in Vienna, and is expected to return to the Iranian question on Tuesday. Further reports on Iran's cooperation with the agency are due in September and November. (SIGNED)

NEB/MS/AWP/RAE/TW