Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11/22/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAN/NUCLEAR (L-O)

NUMBER=2-310122

BYLINE=MELANIE SULLY

DATELINE=VIENNA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The International Atomic Energy Agency is seeking agreement on a resolution concerning Iran's nuclear program. Melanie Sully reports from the I-A-E-A in Vienna.

TEXT: The I-A-E-A Board of Governors meets next week, hoping to break a deadlock on how far to go in censuring Iran.

The United States says Iran only admitted to a sophisticated uranium enrichment program, after the program was discovered. The U-S ambassador to the I-A-E-A, Kenneth Brill, accused Iran of deliberate deceit. He said Iran's production of plutonium had only one purpose - to build nuclear weapons.

The United States wants the board to declare Iran in non-compliance with international obligations, and wants a report to go the U-N Security Council.

If this happens, Iran has hinted it could review its recent co-operation with the I-A-E-A. The Iranian envoy to the atomic energy agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, told reporters, Tehran has already reached an understanding with Britain, France and Germany.

/// SALEHI ACT ///

Our co-operation with the Europeans, it embodies all the elements together of both the additional protocol and the enhancement of our co-operation with the agency (I-A-E-A) and the voluntary suspension of the enrichment program. They all go together, so it's a package.

/// END ACT ///

However, western diplomats say, not all European countries are happy with the way they say Britain, France and Germany presume to set foreign policy for the 15-nation European Union.

The I-A-E-A board reconvenes Wednesday in Vienna. (SIGNED)

NEB/MS/DW/TW