IAEA Chief ElBaradei Circulates Latest Iran Report

Iran: UN nuclear watchdog chief circulates latest report

The head of the United Nations atomic watchdog has circulated his latest report regarding the nuclear programme of Iran to the agency's Board of Governors.

The report covers developments since International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei issued his last report on 30 August.

The 35-member Board of Governors of the IAEA will consider the report at its next meeting, which is scheduled to take place at its Vienna headquarters next Thursday.

Last month Mr. ElBaradei told a General Assembly plenary meeting that Iran's "active cooperation and transparency" are key to resolving the outstanding issues on the country's nuclear ambitions.

"If the Agency were able to provide credible assurance about the peaceful nature of Iran's past and currently nuclear programme, this would go a long way towards building confidence, and could create the conditions for a comprehensive and durable solution," he said.

"Such a solution would assure the international community about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme, while enabling Iran to make full use of nuclear technology for economic and social development."

Iran's nuclear programme has been a matter of international concern since the discovery in 2003 that it had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Last December, the Security Council adopted a resolution banning trade with Iran in all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to the country's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. It tightened the measures in March, banning arms sales and expanding the freeze on assets.

ENDS

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