TEHRAN, 2 July 2003 — Mohammed El Baradei, the head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog, will visit Iran on July 9 amid mounting pressure on the Islamic Republic to accept tougher inspections of its nuclear sites.
The United Nations, United States, Russia and the European Union have all urged Tehran to allow more intrusive, short-notice nuclear inspections, after an IAEA report criticized Iran last month for failing to fully report its atomic activities.
In Moscow, Russia said yesterday it expected to sign a deal in the near future clearing the way for nuclear fuel exports to Iran, part of a contract between Moscow and Tehran to jointly build the Islamic state’s first atomic plant.
Although pressing Tehran to agree to more stringent IAEA inspections, Russia has dismissed US concerns over its nuclear cooperation with Tehran.
Tehran and the IAEA confirmed plans yesterday for El Baradei’s visit.
El Baradei will “discuss all outstanding issues, particularly those identified in his recent report to the board of governors and in the chairman’s statement from that meeting,” IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.
The IAEA’s 35-nation board of governors criticized Iran’s failure to comply with safeguard agreements designed to prevent the use of civilian nuclear resources to make atomic weapons.
Khalil Mousavi, spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said the IAEA visitors would meet the head of the Atomic Energy Organization and other officials to discuss ways to expand cooperation.”
Mousavi declined to comment on whether greater cooperation would lead toward Iran signing an Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which would allow fuller inspections of its nuclear facilities.
Iran is a signatory to the NPT but has so far resisted calls to sign the Additional Protocol, saying sanctions barring the transfer of technology to Tehran must first be lifted.
“I don’t think El Baradei’s visit is a step toward signing the Additional Protocol,” said a senior European diplomat.
