Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=12/18/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=I-A-E-A/IRAN (LONG ONLY)

NUMBER=2-310993

BYLINE=MELANIE SULLY

DATELINE=VIENNA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Iran signed a legal agreement Thursday giving the International Atomic Energy Agency broader access to nuclear facilities and related sites, suspected by the United States to be a cover for a nuclear weapons program. Melanie Sully reports from I-A-E-A headquarters in Vienna.

TEXT: Iranian envoy Ali Akbar Salehi signed the so-called additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at a ceremony attended by I-A-E-A director Mohamed ElBaradei.

Mr. Salehi said this was an historic moment for his country and a turning point for the I-A-E-A.

///SALEHI ACT///

I ardently hope that a new stage is set and that my country shall no more be subject to unfair and politically motivated accusations and allegations. We have committed ourselves to fully fledged co-operation with the agency.

///END ACT///

Mr. Salehi went on to say that the entire Iranian government supported full transparency with the U-N nuclear agency and would leave no stone unturned in disclosing details of its nuclear program.

The United States believes Iran has worked on a secret nuclear weapons program for almost two decades. The I-A-E-A board said last month that Iran has engaged in a pattern of deception about its nuclear program for the past 18 years.

Mr. ElBaradei told reporters there is much work to do in Iran in the upcoming months.

///ELBARADEI ACT///

The protocol is clearly a very important tool to enable us to provide assurances expected by the international community. I think it's an important building block towards establishing confidence that Iran's program is exclusively for peaceful purpose.

///END ACT///

Mr. ElBaradei said Iran has provided full access to nuclear facilities since mid-October and is already acting as if the protocol were in force.

The protocol has yet to be ratified by the parliament in Tehran.

At its meeting last month the I-A-E-A board welcomed Iran's new co-operation with the agency, but warned that any further failure to cooperate could trigger U-N Security Council involvement and possible sanctions. (Signed)

NEB/MS/AWP/FC/RH