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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Iran says IAEA report contains nothing new

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 6, IRNA -- Iran Sunday rejected a confidential report of 
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying it was bereft 
of anything new about the country`s nuclear program. 
"This report has no new point; it is rather repetition of the 
past issues (raised by the IAEA) with a different wording," Foreign 
Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi told reporters at his weekly 
news briefing. 
The U.N. nuclear watchdog said in its confidential report Tuesday 
that Iran had acknowledged importing parts for centrifuges capable of 
making bomb-grade uranium. 
Asefi said the IAEA had asked Tehran to clarify ambiguities 
regarding contamination of some of the imported parts and issues 
related to P2 centrifuges. 
"Iran answered all ambiguities in cooperation with the agency, but
if there exist more ambiguities, they are rooted in the pressures 
exerted by the countries which do not like this file to be resolved 
in a peaceful manner. 
"This report indicates the fussiness (shown by the IAEA) and 
there is no sign of Iran`s laziness and lack of cooperation. 
"The report shows that there is no point in maintaining the 
status quo and that Iran`s file must be closed as soon as possible`. 
The report came ahead of a scheduled meeting by the IAEA`s 
35-member Board of Governors to discuss Tehran`s nuclear case. Asefi 
said he was confident `the ill-wishers of the Islamic Republic of 
Iran` would not achieve what they want. 
The United States has been trying hard to report Iran to the UN 
Security Council on the charges that Tehran was pursuing a 
clandestine nuclear weapons program. 
Tehran says its nuclear program is aimed at peaceful generation 
of power, challenging Washington to reveal any hard evidence it may 
have for its accusations. 
The Foreign Ministry spokesman, however, acknowledged that IAEA 
director Mohamed ElBaradei`s report also contained `some positive 
points`. 
The report had praised Iran for `providing access to locations in 
response to agency`s requests, including workshops situated at 
military sites`. 
Tehran has suspended production of centrifuge components as of 
April 9 as a confidence-building measure with the international 
community. 
It has also voluntarily frozen its uranium enrichment activities 
since last October and signed a protocol allowing snap inspections of 
its nuclear sites by the IAEA. 
The suspension followed an agreement signed between Iran and the 
European big three -- Britain, France and Germany -- for cooperation. 
Asefi underlined `extensive lobbies` being held and reminded the 
three countries of their commitments according to the `Tehran 
Declaration`. 
The official, however, was quick to add that `no sign has emerged 
to show Europe`s lack of commitment to the Tehran Declaration`. 
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