Tehran, July 27: The spokesman for Iran's nuclear program said today that he has resigned. The move, for which Khalil Mousavi offered no explanation, came amid mounting international pressures on Iran to allow unfettered inspections of its nuclear facilities. Mousavi told reporters his resignation was accepted Wednesday by Iran's nuclear chief Gholamreza Aghazadeh.
It wasn't immediately clear if anyone has been chosen to replace Mousavi. Other senior officials at Iran's Atomic Energy Organization of Iran were not immediately available for comment today. Iran is under increasing pressures to sign an additional international protocol to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty requiring tougher inspections of its nuclear sites. The United States suspects Iran is secretly seeking to build a nuclear bomb and wants Iran declared in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Iran, which insists its nuclear program is for peaceful, electrical power purposes, has said previously it would agree to unfettered inspections if it is granted access to advanced nuclear technology as provided for under the NPT. It accuses Washington of using its influence to block that technology.

Bureau Report.