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Iran signs NPT additional protocol

IRNA

Vienna, Dec 18, IRNA -- Iran signed the additional protocol to the 
nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) here on Thursday, thus 
allowing snap inspection of its nuclear facilities by the IAEA 
experts. 
The protocol was signed by Iran`s outgoing representative to the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Akbar Salehi in a 
ceremony attended by IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei. 
The Islamic republic has been accused by the US of attempting 
to develop nuclear weapons - a claim strongly denied by the Islamic 
Republic. 
Representative of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the Board of 
Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Hussein 
Hanif had in an interview with IRNA`s Vienna office on Thursday 
welcomed signing of the NPT additional protocol as a highly positive 
development. 
The announcement of Iran`s readiness to sign the protocol came on 
Wednesday when Head of Iran`s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) 
Gholam-RezaAghazadeh told a press briefing after weekly cabinet 
session that Iran will almost certainly sign the binding 
international protocol. 
"We have agreed to sign the protocol to prove our activities are 
peaceful," said Aghazadeh. 
Iran has recently been cooperative with the IAEA in keeping its 
doors open to the IAEA experts to check its nuclear facilities. 
Iran`s policies of openness and transparency has been welcomed 
by many states as is testified by the IAEA board members in their 
recent November meeting in Vienna. 
The US has been trying to push the IAEA board to take up Iran`s 
case at the UN Security Council but to no avail. 
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