ElBaradei To Visit Iran
VOA News
01 Jul 2003, 14:38 UTC
The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency visits Iran next week for talks on inspections aimed at preventing nuclear arms development by Iran.
The IAEA says its chief, Mohammed ElBaradei, will arrive in Tehran July 9 at Iran's invitation.
The IAEA says it wants Iran to grant all access to its nuclear facilities to defuse suspicions Tehran has a clandestine weapons program.
Mr. ElBaradei wants Iranian permission for short-notice inspections - and for posting monitors at locations where Iran allegedly has enriched uranium - a possible step toward making weapons.
Meanwhile, Russia says it will go forward with helping Iran build a new nuclear power plant at Bushehr. A Russian foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday Moscow "sees no obstacle to cooperation."
There have been conflicting signals as to whether Russia intended to halt the Bushehr project if Iran failed to grant IAEA requests. Iranian officials say Tehran will not allow tougher inspections until it fully studies their implications.
A U.S. State Department spokesman said today Washington remains "deeply concerned about Iran's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and support for terrorism."
The spokesman also criticized plans by Japan to invest in development of Iran's Azadegan oil field, calling that move "particularly unfortunate." U.S. law provides for the possibility of sanctions against foreign companies that invest in Iran's energy sector.
Some information for this report provided by AFP.
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