Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/9/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IAEA/IRAN (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=313946

BYLINE=MELANIE SULLY

DATELINE=VIENNA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Iran says the International Atomic Energy Agency should not adopt a harshly critical resolution regarding the country's nuclear program. Melanie Sully has more from I-A-E-A headquarters in Vienna on this week's meeting of the agency's board of governors.

TEXT: The Iranian envoy to the I-A-E-A in Vienna, Pirooz Hosseini, says he expects the agency's board to pass a resolution, or just issue a statement, repeating written and oral reports it has already released, and nothing else.

/// HOSSEINI ACT ///

Anything beyond that, having hard and tough words and a harsh resolution, is not going to be helpful and is not going to assist the agency and Iran in the way of achieving a fruitful result.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Hosseini was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the I-A-E-A board meeting, where Iran's controversial nuclear program is under review.

Diplomats on the 35-nation board, of which Iran is not a member, are working on the wording of a resolution expected to be passed later this week.

But Mr. Hosseini says the language in drafts sponsored by Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and supported by the United States, is too strong for others.

/// HOSSEINI 2nd ACT ///

A great majority in the E-U and in the non-aligned movement and other countries are in favor of having a resolution reflecting the facts, and not a political resolution aiming at putting pressure on Iran and putting obstacles and impediments to our co-operation with the agency.

/// END ACT ///

The diplomats are working to strike a balance. They want to welcome Iran's decision to sign up for tougher U-N nuclear inspections and suspend its uranium enrichment program. But they also want to respond to breaches of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Iran's failure to disclose all its nuclear activities as promised last year.

For decades, Iran kept secret sophisticated nuclear facilities that the United States sees as part of a nuclear weapons program. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful.

Western diplomats say international inspectors should stay in Iran to look for additional sensitive nuclear technology that has been hidden from the I-A-E-A. (SIGNED)

NEB/MS/AWP/TW