Tehran, Dec 07: Iran's Foreign Ministry vowed today that the Islamic republic would sign up to tougher inspections of its nuclear programme by the UN's atomic watchdog, but did not give a date for signing the additional protocol to the non-proliferation treaty (NPT). "We have agreed to do it, so from our point of view it is definite. Now the issue is in its preliminary phase and the cabinet is finalising the signing of the text," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters.
"After the signing there is another process and it will be presented to the Majlis (parliament). We are sticking to our obligations and we will sign it," he added.
Signing the additional protocol would subject Iran to surprise inspections of its nuclear facilities, which Washington claims are used by Tehran as cover for an atomic weapons programme. The allegations are fiercely denied by the Islamic republic.
The international atomic energy agency (IAEA) last month condemned Iran for 18 years of covert nuclear activities but stopped short of bowing to US demands of hauling Tehran in front of the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.
Iran escaped a tougher line by the UN watchdog after it agreed to fully disclose its activities to the IAEA, sign up to tougher inspections and suspend uranium enrichment.
On Thursday, IAEA Director General Mohamed Elbaradei said he expected IRAN would sign the additional protocol in the "next couple of weeks", although Iran has been accused of stalling on the issue.
Bureau Report