VIENNA/TEHRAN, 18 December 2003 — Iran will sign today an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to allow tougher inspections of suspect sites, bowing to international pressure, the UN’s nuclear watchdog said.
“It is confirmed. They will sign,” International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spokesman Peter Rickwood said yesterday.
“It is an historic event,” he added.
Rickwood said the signing would take place at the agency’s headquarters in Vienna at 3:00 p.m. in the presence of IAEA Director General Mohamed El-Baradei.
Iran’s vice president and head of its atomic energy organization, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, earlier from Tehran signaled that the Islamic republic could sign the treaty today, telling reporters: “Possibly tomorrow.”
Iranian diplomats in Vienna said late yesterday it was not yet clear who would sign the protocol on behalf of Tehran.
Iran has for months been under mounting pressure, notably from the United States, to sign the text, amid suspicions that it is using a civil atomic energy program as a cover for secret nuclear weapons development.
Last month, the IAEA condemned the Islamic republic for 18 years of covert nuclear activities, although a report said there was no clear evidence the country had been developing nuclear arms.
El-Baradei has argued that the agency needs more powers as it continues to probe Iran, including the ability to carry out unannounced inspections of suspect nuclear sites. Under the basic treaty, the IAEA is only authorized to carry out pre-arranged site inspections.
Iran, named as part of an “axis of evil” by US President George W. Bush along with North Korea and the ousted regime in Iraq, had long been resisting the additional protocol.
It argued that inspectors could violate national sovereignty and probe sites that are crucial to the defense of the country and demanded guarantees that this would not happen.
But Iran finally gave in to IAEA demands after the agency threatened to refer its concerns to the UN Security Council, which would have left Iran vulnerable to sanctions.
That U-turn came in October during an unprecedented visit by the foreign ministers of the European Union’s big three — Britain, France and Germany.
Iran agreed to sign the additional protocol, hand over full details of its activities and suspend uranium enrichment.
Russia kept the pressure up this week with Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev warning Monday that Russia would not deliver nuclear fuel to Iran for a new atomic power plant unless Tehran signs the protocol.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of state, has given his blessing to the additional protocol.
But a number of influential conservatives have voiced strong opposition to allowing the tougher inspections.
Several had gone so far as to advocate following the path of fellow “axis” member North Korea and pulling out of the NPT, which took effect in 1970, altogether.
The Iranian government has vehemently denied that it is seeking nuclear arms, saying the only aim of the nuclear program is to allow it to provide cheaper energy to its people.
Iran Ready to PardonOpposition Members
Meanwhile, President Mohammad Khatami said yesterday that Iran was ready to pardon most members of the People’s Mujahedeen, an armed opposition group; set to be expelled from its bases in neighboring Iraq.
“We believe that those members whose hands are not tainted with crimes, that is to say most of them, should be pardoned so they can come home,” Khatami told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.
But those members of the rebel group linked to attacks against the clerical regime should also return to Iran for what he pledged would be “a fair trial”.
