Iran Calls IAEA Nuclear Oversight 'Intense'

Iranian President Khatami says his country will not give in to foreign pressure on the nuclear issue (file photo) 6 October 2004 -- Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Hussein Mussavian, says the IAEA has "intense" oversight of a key move by Tehran to enrich uranium.
Mussavian said in Vienna today that the agency is accounting for "each milligram" of raw uranium that is being used to create a gas needed in the enrichment process.

Enriched uranium can be used to produce nuclear fuel or atomic weapons.

IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming confirmed that the process is being conducted under the agency's supervision.

The disclosure comes at a time of continuing controversy over Iran's nuclear program. The United States has accused Tehran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, but Iran says its program is purely for peaceful purposes.

Iranian President Hojatoleslam Mohammad Khatami said again today that his country will not give in to foreign pressure on its nuclear intentions.

(Reuters)