TEHRAN, 8 June 2003 — Iran said yesterday the International Atomic Energy Agency’s report on the Islamic republic’s nuclear program showed Tehran was cooperating with the agency. The United Nations nuclear watchdog has accused Iran of failing to comply with safeguards intended to ensure it does not build an atomic bomb, according to a confidential report obtained by Reuters on Friday. The IAEA found Iran was taking steps to put things right.

“This report like other reports by the agency’s chief bears legal points and indicates Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization’s transparent interaction with the IAEA,” Khalil Moosavi, spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization told Reuters. “The International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors entered Iran today... They are doing their job as usual,” Moosavi told AFP. On television earlier, Moosavi rejected the IAEA charges, which appeared in a report widely leaked to the media, saying Iran had fully abided by its obligations and could provide answers to the agency.

The United States, fresh from war in Iraq over alleged banned weapons, called the report on Iran “deeply troubling”. But Moosavi rejected the US reaction as “politically-motivated” propaganda against Iran. “America is repeating its claims against Iran ... repeating such claims does not mean being able to prove them,” he said.

The IAEA’s report will be presented by the agency’s chief, Mohamed El-Baradei, to the governors in Vienna on June 16. “We will announce our official reaction by presenting a statement to the IAEA’S governors on June 16,” Moosavi said. The IAEA, whose inspectors visited Iran in February, said Tehran was taking steps to comply with safeguards agreements that aim to ensure nuclear materials and facilities in NPT signatory states do not end up in secret weapons programs. “Iran’s nuclear activities are transparent and we will act upon our obligations to NPT and continue our cooperation with the agency,” Moosavi said.

Iran’s Parliament is to debate the country’s nuclear projects following the, the IRNA news agency reported yesterday. At today’s debate, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi and IAEO chief Gholam-Reza Aqazadeh will reply to questions of the MPS over Iran’s policies with regards to controversies over its nuclear projects. Ali Tajernia, a member of Parliament, told IRNA the debate was aimed at evaluating doubts in the West over the nuclear projects and seeking an appropriate policy which would prove the peaceful nature of the nuclear activities in Iran.

In another development, the head of Iran’s powerful Guardians Council called on the reformist-dominated Parliament yesterday to revise two bills presented last year aimed at boosting the powers of moderate President Mohammed Khatami. The bills, which the council shot down earlier this year as unconstitutional and conflicting with Islam, are considered by Khatami and his supporters as a final attempt to ease the stranglehold the powerful conservatives have over their agenda.

“The two bills must be meticulously reviewed in the appropriate committee of parliament in a way to remove the flaws found in them,” Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said, quoted on state radio.

In a letter to parliamentary speaker Mehdi Karubi last Sunday, Khatami said the bills would be modified but not fundamentally changed. He also ruled out calling on the conservative-dominated Expediency Council to mediate between the council and the parliament, saying this would be an admission of defeat.