IRAN: The UN nuclear watchdog said yesterday that questions remained about Iran's nuclear programme and confirmed that Tehran had resumed activities suspended under a deal with the EU.
This has set the stage for a possible referral to the UN Security Council.
The confidential report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was "still not in a position to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran". The report, authored by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, said: "In view of the fact that the agency is not yet in a position to clarify some of the important outstanding issues after 2½ years of intensive inspections and investigation, Iran's full transparency is indispensable and overdue."
Tehran had angered the EU by resuming uranium processing work last month at a plant in Isfahan - a move which has brought talks between Iran and the EU close to collapse and led EU officials to threaten UN Security Council referral. "The whole [ Isfahan plant] is operating," an official close to the IAEA said.
Confirmation that Iran refused to resume the suspension, which was the cornerstone of a November deal with France, Britain and Germany, would likely prompt the EU to join Washington in pushing for Iran's case to be referred to the Security Council for punitive action, EU diplomats have said.
The IAEA board of governors demanded on August 11th that Iran resume the suspension and asked Mr ElBaradei to report on Tehran's compliance by September 3rd.
The report says Iran needed to give the IAEA access to all documents, individuals and sites that were relevant to its nuclear programme, but makes it clear it has not been entirely forthcoming.