TEHRAN, 11 December 2003 — The Iranian government has authorized the signing of the additional protocol of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, taking another step on the path to fulfilling its commitment to allowing unrestricted inspection of its nuclear facilities.
“The government has authorized the Foreign Ministry to go ahead with a signature of the additional protocol,” government spokesman Abdullah Ramezanzadeh told reporters yesterday.
While Iran pledged to sign the protocol during a visit by three European foreign ministers on Oct. 21, its failure to do so promptly has led to accusations of backtracking.
The United States, which suspects Iran of conducting a secret program to build nuclear bombs, is known to be impatient for Iran to sign.
Ramezanzadeh did not say when Iran’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna would sign the protocol.
