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Iran 'withholds nuclear details' | Iran 'withholds nuclear details' |
(about 8 hours later) | |
The UN nuclear watchdog has said it believes Iran is still withholding information on its nuclear programme. | The UN nuclear watchdog has said it believes Iran is still withholding information on its nuclear programme. |
In a report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Tehran's alleged weapons development studies remain a matter of serious concern. | In a report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Tehran's alleged weapons development studies remain a matter of serious concern. |
It adds that Iran is operating 3,500 centrifuges, the machines used to enrich uranium, at its plant at Natanz. | It adds that Iran is operating 3,500 centrifuges, the machines used to enrich uranium, at its plant at Natanz. |
Enriched uranium can be used in nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. | Enriched uranium can be used in nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. |
Last month, the IAEA said it had reached an agreement with Iranian officials to clarify the main outstanding question about Iran's past nuclear work by the end of May. | Last month, the IAEA said it had reached an agreement with Iranian officials to clarify the main outstanding question about Iran's past nuclear work by the end of May. |
But in its latest report, the IAEA says Tehran needs to provide much more explanation and information on its nuclear activities. | But in its latest report, the IAEA says Tehran needs to provide much more explanation and information on its nuclear activities. |
Responding to the report, Iran's envoy to the IAEA told the AFP news agency his country had "left no question unanswered" and would continue to enrich uranium. | Responding to the report, Iran's envoy to the IAEA told the AFP news agency his country had "left no question unanswered" and would continue to enrich uranium. |
Additional information | Additional information |
"Iran has not provided the agency with all the information, access to documents and access to individuals necessary to support Iran's statements [that its activities are purely peaceful in intent]," the IAEA report said. | "Iran has not provided the agency with all the information, access to documents and access to individuals necessary to support Iran's statements [that its activities are purely peaceful in intent]," the IAEA report said. |
A vindication and reiteration of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities Iran's description of the new IAEA report | A vindication and reiteration of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities Iran's description of the new IAEA report |
"The agency is of the view that Iran may have additional information, in particular on high explosives testing and missile-related activities which... Iran should share with the agency. | "The agency is of the view that Iran may have additional information, in particular on high explosives testing and missile-related activities which... Iran should share with the agency. |
An unnamed "senior UN official" in Vienna told Reuters news agency: | An unnamed "senior UN official" in Vienna told Reuters news agency: |
"We have not got substantive answers and we could have gotten those earlier. It's up to Iran [now]." | "We have not got substantive answers and we could have gotten those earlier. It's up to Iran [now]." |
Gregory Schulte, the chief US delegate to the IAEA, said the report had detailed a "long list of questions that Iran has failed to answer". | Gregory Schulte, the chief US delegate to the IAEA, said the report had detailed a "long list of questions that Iran has failed to answer". |
"At the same time that Iran is stonewalling its inspectors, it's moving forward in developing its enrichment capability in violation of Security Council resolutions," he told The Associated Press. | "At the same time that Iran is stonewalling its inspectors, it's moving forward in developing its enrichment capability in violation of Security Council resolutions," he told The Associated Press. |
The envoy described parts of the report as a "direct rebuttal" of Iranian arguments that all nuclear questions had been answered. | The envoy described parts of the report as a "direct rebuttal" of Iranian arguments that all nuclear questions had been answered. |
Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy, told AFP by telephone that "200 pages of explanations" had been furnished by Tehran. | Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy, told AFP by telephone that "200 pages of explanations" had been furnished by Tehran. |
The IAEA report was, he said, "a vindication and reiteration of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities". | The IAEA report was, he said, "a vindication and reiteration of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities". |
"We will continue enrichment, while not suspending our cooperation with the IAEA," he added. | "We will continue enrichment, while not suspending our cooperation with the IAEA," he added. |
Centrifuges | Centrifuges |
Iran has told the IAEA it plans to have 6,000 uranium-enriching centrifuges operating by the end of the summer. | Iran has told the IAEA it plans to have 6,000 uranium-enriching centrifuges operating by the end of the summer. |
Footage of Iranian nuclear facilities | Footage of Iranian nuclear facilities |
Speaking anonymously, officials close to the IAEA said on Monday they had no reason to doubt this was the case. | Speaking anonymously, officials close to the IAEA said on Monday they had no reason to doubt this was the case. |
The suspension of uranium enrichment is a key demand of the UN Security Council, which has imposed sanctions on Iran. | The suspension of uranium enrichment is a key demand of the UN Security Council, which has imposed sanctions on Iran. |
Uranium can be used either as nuclear fuel or as the fissile core of missile warheads, depending on the degree of enrichment. | Uranium can be used either as nuclear fuel or as the fissile core of missile warheads, depending on the degree of enrichment. |
Iran insists it has a right to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and says it want only to generate power. | Iran insists it has a right to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and says it want only to generate power. |
Iran's nuclear programme has been under IAEA investigation since 2002, when Iranian dissidents revealed the existence of secret uranium enrichment. | Iran's nuclear programme has been under IAEA investigation since 2002, when Iranian dissidents revealed the existence of secret uranium enrichment. |