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Diplomat: ElBaradei report shows Iran not violating NPT, int'l rules and regulations on non-proliferation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Nov 15, IRNA
Iran-Nuclear-Report
An Iranian diplomat here on Wednesday said that a report released Tuesday by the chief of the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Iran's nuclear activities confirms Tehran has not violated the NPT or other international law or regulation on nuclear non-proliferation.

Commenting on the report of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohammed ElBaradei, the diplomat, who requested anonymity, said that Iran had provided all necessary means to verify its nuclear activities by allowing IAEA inspectors access to its nuclear sites.

"Iran has made it possible for them (IAEA inspectors) to examine its activities in its nuclear facilities and to verify materials found therein," said the diplomat.

ElBaradei's report is be discussed in a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna on November 22-23.

The report points to the fact that all nuclear activities of Iran are conducted under the full supervision of the IAEA and that Iran is fully cooperating with the body in accordance with its commitments as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), said the diplomat.

He added that the report confirms that US allegations of ambiguity in Iran's motives for pursuing a nuclear program are without basis.

It also shows that the move of referring Iran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council was "unreasonable," stressed the diplomat.

He reminded that the IAEA had conducted 2,400 person-day inspections on Iran's nuclear sites and facilities which are sufficient to remove all doubts on the peaceful nature of its activities.

And even then, he added, "Tehran is willing to remove all remaining ambiguities pursuant to its commitments through further cooperation and interaction with the IAEA."

Referring to that part in ElBaradei's report which had to do with Iran's nuclear enrichment activities in its facilities in Natanz, central Iran, the diplomat said the report also confirms that IAEA inspectors had been given full access to the facilities and had found no incriminatory evidence.

"In addition to the initial 10, 20 and 164 centrifuges an additional 164 centrifuges have been installed and UF6 gas is being tested in these centrifuges since October 6," said the diplomat.

He quoted ElBaradei in his report as saying that construction of a 40mw heavy water reactor in Arak's Khandab facility, 293km southwest of the capital Tehran, was underway and that IAEA inspectors were monitoring operations through inspections and satellite images.

ElBaradei said in his report that some of the remaining questions on the history of Iran's P1 and P2 facilities could not be answered as Tehran was not implementing the NPT Additional Protocol.

In other words, said the diplomat, the report indicated that "Iran was not committed to answering those questions." However, he added, ElBaradei assured in his report that the UN nuclear watchdog would make further efforts to remove all ambiguities through additional interaction with Iran.

It was also said in the report that the IAEA needed more time and further mulling to reach conclusions on a number of other investigations it was making on Iran's nuclear activities.

As for the traces of plutonium which ElBaradei mentioned in the report, the diplomat said that the UN nuclear watchdog was still mulling a few questions regarding previous tests conducted and Iran's response to the IAEA submitted on Nov 13 in this regard.

1394/2321/1414