IAEA: Iran Provides Information On Schedule In Nuclear Probe

The UN's nuclear watchdog says that Tehran has provided information on schedule as part of an investigation into Iran's alleged past efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on October 15 that, in line with a plan agreed with Iran in July, its chief Yukiya Amano will now provide a "final assessment" on the investigation by December 15.

The IAEA keeps close tabs on Iran's declared nuclear facilities to ensure that no atomic material is diverted by Iran to any covert weapons program.

Tehran denies it has a covert nuclear weapons program.

Under a landmark deal in July between Iran and six major powers, Iran must dramatically scale down its uranium-enrichment activities in order to render any effort to make an atomic bomb virtually impossible.

But the IAEA also wants to investigate Western claims that at least until 2003, Iran conducted research into making nuclear weapons that included explosives tests at the Parchin military base.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP