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IAEA in talks with Iran after inspectors blocked
AFP
VIENNA
Petroleumworld.com 01 23 06The International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday it was discussing with Iran its demand to withdraw some nuclear inspectors but was confident it could continue monitoring the country's nuclear facilities.
"It should be noted however, that there are a sufficient number of inspectors designated for Iran and the IAEA is able to perform its inspection activities in accordance with Iran's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement," IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.
Earlier, the head of the Iranian parliament's national security commission told ISNA news agency that Iran has decided to block 38 IAEA inspectors in a fresh show of defiance over its nuclear aims.
Last month, Iran's parliament adopted a bill requiring the government to revise its cooperation with the IAEA after the UN Security Council passed a resolution to impose sanctions on Tehran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment work.
Alaeddin Borujerdi, head of parliament's national security commission, said on Monday that the blocking of the inspectors was a "first step in implementing the parliament legislation."
IAEA inspectors regularly visit Iranian nuclear sites under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which Iran is a signatory.
The parliament adopted the bill in response to the UN resolution 1737 that imposes sanctions on Iran's nuclear and missile programmes.
Iran, OPEC's second largest oil exporter, insists its nuclear programme is solely aimed at meeting peaceful energy needs. However, the West fears that it could be diverted towards building a bomb.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters on Monday that "any country had the right to refuse admission to inspectors", a position confirmed by IAEA diplomats.
Last July IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said that 200 inspectors were charged with investigating Iran's nuclear activities, but did not stay permanently in Iran.
Previouly they have only mainly encountered only minor problems, like delays in getting visas and restrictions on access to certain nuclear installations.
A diplomatic source at the IAEA said that Iran had a right to refuse access to its inspectors without giving a reason.
However, under Iran's agreement with the IAEA on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, the IAEA can take action if Iran repeatedly refuses access to designated inspectors.
"If as a result of the repeated refusal of the government of Iran to accept the designation of agency inspectors, inspections to be conducted under this agreement would be impeded," according to the agreement.
"Such refusal shall be considered by the (IAEA) board upon referral by the director general of the agency with a view to its taking appropriate action," it says
The next meeting of the IAEA's council of governors is slated for March 5.
It is not the first time that Iran has denied access to an IAEA inspector.
Tehran banned a Belgian inspector, Chris Charlier, last April for talking to the press. It has also limited inspectors' access to some of its sites on several occasions.
AFP 22 1913 GMT 01 07
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