Rome, July 05: The head of the UN nuclear agency today said he was hopeful Iran would agree to sign a UN protocol granting the agency more power to check its nuclear activities, saying it was in Tehran's interest to give international assurances about its programmes. Mohamed Elbaradei travels to Tehran on Wednesday in a bid to get clarification from the government about US-led suspicions it has a clandestine weapons programme.
"I am going there to make sure that we hopefully get clarification on all outstanding issues surrounding Iran's programme," Elbaradei said on the sidelines of a weapons conference in Rome. "And I will be urging Iran to sign that protocol."
The additional protocol to the nuclear nonproliferation treaty gives the international atomic energy agency more powers to carry out inspections of Iran's nuclear activities. Currently 80 countries abide by it.
Elbaradei has also urged Tehran to let monitors take environmental samples at a location where it has allegedly enriched uranium - a possible step in producing nuclear weapons.
"That protocol is important because it allows us to more comprehensive verification," Elbaradei said. "In a country like Iran, with an extensive nuclear programme, it is important that we are able to provide comprehensive assurances, in-depth verification to the international community."
Bureau Report