VIENNA, 19 June 2004 — The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency censured but did not sanction Iran for cover-ups yesterday and warned Tehran to be more forthcoming if it wants an end to a probe of suspected activities.
Tehran threatened it might retaliate by reconsidering plans to suspend its uranium enrichment.
In harsh language, the resolution approved by the 35-member board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency “deplores” that “Iran’s cooperation has not been as full, timely and proactive as it should have been,” and notes “with concern that after almost two years” since Iran’s undeclared program came to light, “a number of questions remain outstanding.”
The resolution — submitted by France, Germany and Britain with the help of the United States — was a product of days of diplomatic maneuvering over the right wording.
IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said the resolution “calls in very explicit terms on Iran to accelerate its cooperation with the agency.”
US Undersecretary of State John R. Bolton said Washington was “very pleased.”
“The results will keep Iran’s nuclear program and its efforts to deceive and obstruct IAEA inspectors at the center of international attention for quite some time,” he said.
In veiled condemnation of the United States, Iranian delegate Amir Zamaninia told the meeting that the tone of the resolution was affected by “wild and illusionary” allegations of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons program and was “a departure from the reality on the ground”.
He warned that his country was reviewing its “voluntary confidence-building measures,” an indication that Iran might rethink the suspension of its uranium enrichment activities.
As the agency put final touches on the wording late Thursday, diplomats speaking on condition of anonymity said the IAEA was looking into accusations that Iran was razing parts of a restricted area next to a military complex in a Tehran suburb.
Satellite photos showed that several buildings had been destroyed and topsoil had been removed at Lavizan Shiyan, one diplomat said.
Iran’s chief delegate to the Vienna meeting of the IAEA’s board of governors, Hossein Mousavian, denied a cover-up and said the IAEA was free to see the site.
US chief delegate Kenneth Brill, in comments to the board yesterday, accused the Iranians of taking “the wrecking ball and bulldozer” to the site “to deal with some particularly incriminating facts.”
He said the resolution passed yesterday put the board “on record as rejecting Iran’s continuing tactics of delay, denial and deception.” Washington feels Tehran should be hauled before the UN Security council for violating the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, he added.
Though the resolution does not give a deadline, it states that it is essential for Iran to deal with issues “within the next few months.” It does not contain a “trigger mechanism” — a clause sought by Washington that could send the Iran case to the UN Security Council.
