Vienna, 31 October 2003 (RFE/RL) -- The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, Mohammad el-Baradei, says his International Atomic Energy Agency is analyzing Iran's report on its nuclear programs, and that many questions remain. El-Baradei's comments, reported today in the German daily "Frankfurter Allgemeine," came on the day set as the deadline for Iran to fully disclose all the details of its nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) set 31 October as the final chance for Iran to provide evidence that it is not secretly trying to build nuclear weapons.
El-Baradei yesterday said the Iranian report, submitted to the IAEA on 23 October, appears to be comprehensive, but that investigations will continue.
"On first glance, the report [from Iran] is comprehensive, but we still have to do a lot of fine-tuning, we still have to do a lot of questioning, and that is why we are there right now, and we will continue to be there doing inspections for quite a few months, in fact," he said.
Iran last week said it will allow unrestricted inspections of its nuclear facilities by the UN watchdog. The IAEA is expected to address the Iranian nuclear issue at a meeting opening 20 November in Vienna.
El-Baradei yesterday said the Iranian report, submitted to the IAEA on 23 October, appears to be comprehensive, but that investigations will continue.
"On first glance, the report [from Iran] is comprehensive, but we still have to do a lot of fine-tuning, we still have to do a lot of questioning, and that is why we are there right now, and we will continue to be there doing inspections for quite a few months, in fact," he said.
Iran last week said it will allow unrestricted inspections of its nuclear facilities by the UN watchdog. The IAEA is expected to address the Iranian nuclear issue at a meeting opening 20 November in Vienna.