Latest Report Sheds Light On Iran Nuculear Program

UN Nuclear Watchdog Chief Circulates Latest Report On Iran

New York, Sep 17 2008 12:10PM

The head of the United Nations atomic watchdog has circulated his latest report on Iran’s nuclear programme to the agency’s Board of Directors.

It covers developments since Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), submitted his last report to the 35-member policymaking body on 26 May.

The Board will discuss the report, entitled “Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Council Resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007) and 1803 (2008) in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” when it meets in Vienna next week.

The Middle Eastern nation’s nuclear programme – which its officials have stated is for peaceful purposes, but some other countries contend is driven by military ambitions – has been a matter of international concern since the discovery in 2003 that the country had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

A Security Council resolution in December 2006 banned 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.

In March 2007, the Council tightened the sanctions by imposing a ban on arms sales and expanding the freeze on assets.

The 15-member body imposed further sanctions this March. These included the inspection of cargo suspected of carrying prohibited goods, the tighter monitoring of financial institutions and the extension of travel bans and asset freezes, over its nuclear programme.

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