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IAEA adopts resolution on Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Vienna, March 13, IRNA -- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 
here Saturday approved a resolution, deferring progress in verifying 
Iran`s declarations about its nuclear activities until the watchdog`s 
next meeting in June. 
The 35-member Board of Governors decided to withhold response to 
the nature of the Islamic Republic`s nuclear activities until the 
receipt of a report which, it asked IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei to 
compile before the end of May. 
The resolution, issued without a vote, came following intensive 
closed-door negotiations, amid the US-led lobby to send a 
strong-worded message to Tehran. 
This was opposed by some members, particularly the Non-Aligned 
Movement (NAM) countries, which issued a statement, commending 
Tehran`s `increased cooperation` with the international nuclear 
watchdog. 
In issuing the resolution, the Board of Governors noted `with 
satisfaction that Iran signed the Additional Protocol on December 18, 
2003 and ... committed itself to acting in accordance with the 
provisions of the protocol`. 
By signing the Additional Protocol to the non-proliferation treaty
(NPT), Iran accepted snap inspections of its nuclear facilities, which
Tehran says are strictly intended for peaceful purposes. 
The board also took note of Iran`s voluntary decision on December 
29 to suspend all uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing 
activities, saying it `constitutes useful steps`. 
But, it said it `noted with serious concern` what it called 
Tehran`s omission of any reference `to its possession of P-2 
centrifuge design drawings and to associated research, manufacturing, 
and mechanical testing activities`. 
The board said it also `echoes the concern expressed by the 
director general of (the IAEA) over the issue of the purpose of Iran`s
activities related to experiments on the production and intended use 
of polonium-210`. 
The resolution was issued apparently after a deal was stuck, 
making its tone softer. The resolution, however, seems only slightly 
changed from what was originally drafted by Canada and Australia. 
Iran`s IAEA ambassador, Pirooz Hosseini, on Wednesday denounced 
the draft nuclear resolution on Iran, saying it was `tough and 
one-sided`. 
"In the face of constructive activities and cooperation of Iran 
and implementation of (international) laws and regulations by the 
Islamic Republic, the draft resolution must not have taken such a 
shape," Pirooz Hosseini told IRNA reporter. 
"The Americans do not want to accept that there is no program in 
Iran for the production of nuclear weapons and all their desperate 
efforts are along this line. 
"America, because of the failures which it faces in all corners of
the world, particularly in our neighbor in Iraq, is anxious not to 
suffer another failure," Hosseini said. 
Tehran says its nuclear program is in accordance with the 
country`s bid to produce 7,000 megawatts of electricity in the next 20
years, when the country`s oil and gas reserves become overstretched. 
Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi had warned IAEA against taking any
`wrong` decision against the Islamic Republic, clarifying that such 
decisions will force us to react`. 
"While we have rendered our best cooperation with the agency 
(IAEA) and continued our negotiations with the Europeans but ... 
unfortunately the agency is sometimes influenced by America," he said 
on Wednesday. 
BH/AH/210 
End