IAEA's el-Baradei "not yet in the position to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials"
15 November 2004 -- Correspondents in Vienna say the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has prepared a report on Iran's controversial nuclear activities that says the agency cannot rule out the existence of covert nuclear work.
The report is confidential, and has been prepared for a meeting of the IAEA's board of governors on 25 November. However, news agencies say they have obtained copies of the report today.
In it, the IAEA says said all nuclear material Iran had declared to the agency in the past year has been accounted for. Therefore the agency can state that "such material is not diverted to prohibited [weapons] activities."
But the report also says that IAEA Director-General Muhammad el-Baradei is "not yet in the position to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials" that could have been used for a weapons program.
It says Iran was guilty of "many breaches" of international nuclear safeguards obligations in a policy of concealment that lasted until October 2003.
The IAEA board meeting is set to decide what action, if any, should be taken against Iran. The United States wants the IAEA to refer the matter to the UN Security Council for the possible imposition of sanctions against Iran. Washington believes Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.
(compiled from agency reports)
In it, the IAEA says said all nuclear material Iran had declared to the agency in the past year has been accounted for. Therefore the agency can state that "such material is not diverted to prohibited [weapons] activities."
But the report also says that IAEA Director-General Muhammad el-Baradei is "not yet in the position to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials" that could have been used for a weapons program.
It says Iran was guilty of "many breaches" of international nuclear safeguards obligations in a policy of concealment that lasted until October 2003.
The IAEA board meeting is set to decide what action, if any, should be taken against Iran. The United States wants the IAEA to refer the matter to the UN Security Council for the possible imposition of sanctions against Iran. Washington believes Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.
(compiled from agency reports)