Iran Reportedly Halts Uranium-Enrichment Technologies

Tehran, 29 March 2004 (RFE/RL) -- The top Iranian nuclear official was quoted today as saying Iran has suspended the production of components and assembly of technology for uranium enrichment.
Gholamreza Aghazadeh, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, was quoted as saying the suspension had been ordered by the Supreme National Security Council, the top decision-making body.

An unnamed Iranian nuclear official said the suspension referred to the construction of centrifuge machines. AP quoted the official as saying Tehran has suspended those activities to "win greater trust" with the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

IAEA inspectors are currently in Iran to check on its nuclear facilities. The United States wants the IAEA to declare Iran in breach of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty since it failed to declare some of its nuclear activities.

Washington suspects Tehran of secretly developing nuclear weapons.