Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=9/18/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IAEA/IRAN (L-Only)

NUMBER=2-319088

BYLINE=MARLENE SMITH

DATELINE=VIENNA

CONTENT=

HEADLINE: IAEA Demands Iran Stop Uranium Enrichment

INTRO: After a week of delicate negotiations, the International Atomic Energy Agency's ruling body has adopted a resolution calling for Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment activities. Marlene Smith reports from IAEA headquarters in Vienna.

TEXT: The head of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, urged Iran to comply with the resolution.

/// ELBARADEI ACT ///

"I am still of the view that, at this delicate stage of out investigations, it will be in the interest of Iran to do its utmost to create confidence and continue its suspension, going back to the full suspension of its fuel cycle activities, as requested by the board."

/// END ACT ///

The resolution also calls on Iran to give IAEA inspectors unrestricted access to sites, information and personnel in an effort to establish whether its nuclear program is purely peaceful as Tehran claims.

Iran says it is already fully co-operating with the IAEA, and inspectors can go where they like.

The resolution, which received unanimous approval from the agency's board of governors, puts off a decision on referring the matter to the U.N. Security Council, until the next board meeting in November.

Mr. ElBaradei said he will start work immediately on drawing up a report covering the whole Iran program.

/// 2nd ELBARADEI ACT ///

"Whether we will be able to wrap up all the issues, this is an open question. It depends on co-operation we get from Iran on any new discoveries that might come to our attention, and on the co-operation of other countries that provided equipment and other items. All these are open questions."

/// END ACT ///

The IAEA wants more information on the links between Iran and a global nuclear black market.

The United States and other countries believe that Iran is stalling, and say the extensive nature of experiments, components and nuclear sites in Iran all point to a weapons development program. Iran insists its nuclear program is strictly for generating electricity.

Iran kept its nuclear activities secret from the outside world for almost two decades, something that Washington says is suspicious for a supposedly civilian program. (SIGNED)

NEB/MS/TW