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Iran hands over list of imported nuclear equipment
Tehran, Oct 06: A top Iranian diplomat said today that Iran has begun handing over to International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors lists of parts the Islamic republic has imported for its nuclear programme, a key demand contained in an IAEA ultimatum.
Tehran, Oct 06: A top Iranian diplomat said today that Iran has begun handing over to International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors lists of parts the Islamic republic has imported for its nuclear programme, a key demand contained in an IAEA ultimatum.
"We have already given a list of imported parts that were bought through intermediaries, and we are in the process of finishing this list," Iran's representative to the IAEA, Ali Akbar Salehi, said.
Salehi added that Iran had purchased some parts through middle-men so it "does not know of their origin".
The IAEA has asked Iran to come up with a detailed list of its nuclear-related equipment, notably pieces used for the building of centrifuges for uranium enrichment.
On previous inspection visits, IAEA teams have found traces of highly enriched uranium, raising suspicions that despite its denials, Iran has a secret weapons programme.
In a resolution on September 12, the IAEA's board of governors gave Iran until October 31 to guarantee it was not developing and would not develop atomic weapons under the cover of its civil nuclear programme.
The resolution, passed after heavy US lobbying, also called on it to sign an additional protocol to the UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) allowing for unscheduled inspections and implement it immediately and unconditionally. An IAEA team is currently in the Islamic republic for what has been described as a "decisive" round of inspections and talks aimed at clearing up a number of key questions. Bureau Report
Salehi added that Iran had purchased some parts through middle-men so it "does not know of their origin".
The IAEA has asked Iran to come up with a detailed list of its nuclear-related equipment, notably pieces used for the building of centrifuges for uranium enrichment.
On previous inspection visits, IAEA teams have found traces of highly enriched uranium, raising suspicions that despite its denials, Iran has a secret weapons programme.
In a resolution on September 12, the IAEA's board of governors gave Iran until October 31 to guarantee it was not developing and would not develop atomic weapons under the cover of its civil nuclear programme.
The resolution, passed after heavy US lobbying, also called on it to sign an additional protocol to the UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) allowing for unscheduled inspections and implement it immediately and unconditionally. An IAEA team is currently in the Islamic republic for what has been described as a "decisive" round of inspections and talks aimed at clearing up a number of key questions. Bureau Report