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| UN agency 'infiltrated by terrorists and saboteurs', says Iranian nuclear chief | UN agency 'infiltrated by terrorists and saboteurs', says Iranian nuclear chief |
| (8 days later) | |
| Iran's nuclear chief has lashed out at the International Atomic Energy Agency in a strongly worded statement, insinuating that "terrorists and saboteurs" might have infiltrated the UN watchdog. | Iran's nuclear chief has lashed out at the International Atomic Energy Agency in a strongly worded statement, insinuating that "terrorists and saboteurs" might have infiltrated the UN watchdog. |
| In a speech made at the annual member-state gathering at the IAEA in Vienna, Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani suggested that UN inspectors working on Iranian facilities might be linked to a series of power cuts that he believed were the work of sabotage aimed at disrupting the country's nuclear programme. | In a speech made at the annual member-state gathering at the IAEA in Vienna, Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani suggested that UN inspectors working on Iranian facilities might be linked to a series of power cuts that he believed were the work of sabotage aimed at disrupting the country's nuclear programme. |
| According to Abbasi-Davani, the electricity power lines to two main Iranian nuclear sites, the Fordow underground enrichment plant near the city of Qom and another facility at Natanz, were cut as a result of explosions earlier this year. | According to Abbasi-Davani, the electricity power lines to two main Iranian nuclear sites, the Fordow underground enrichment plant near the city of Qom and another facility at Natanz, were cut as a result of explosions earlier this year. |
| "Terrorists and saboteurs might have intruded the agency and might be making decisions covertly," he said at the IAEA conference. | "Terrorists and saboteurs might have intruded the agency and might be making decisions covertly," he said at the IAEA conference. |
| To back his accusations, Abbasi-Davani referred to the power cut at Fordow which he said took place last month, adding that IAEA inspectors requested a visit to the affected premises without notice the morning after the incident. | To back his accusations, Abbasi-Davani referred to the power cut at Fordow which he said took place last month, adding that IAEA inspectors requested a visit to the affected premises without notice the morning after the incident. |
| "Does this visit have any connection to that detonation? Who, other than the IAEA inspector, can have access to the complex in such a short time to record and report failures?" he said. "It should be recalled that power cut-off is one of the ways to break down centrifuge machines." | "Does this visit have any connection to that detonation? Who, other than the IAEA inspector, can have access to the complex in such a short time to record and report failures?" he said. "It should be recalled that power cut-off is one of the ways to break down centrifuge machines." |
| In November 2010, bomb attacks targeted Abbasi-Davani and his fellow colleague and nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari. Shahriari was killed in what is widely seen as a covert war against the Islamic republic's nuclear programme but Abbasi-Davani was wounded and later promoted as head of the country's atomic energy agency. | In November 2010, bomb attacks targeted Abbasi-Davani and his fellow colleague and nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari. Shahriari was killed in what is widely seen as a covert war against the Islamic republic's nuclear programme but Abbasi-Davani was wounded and later promoted as head of the country's atomic energy agency. |
| Abbasi-Davani's remarks come only a week after an overwhelming majority of member states at the IAEA rebuked Iran in a new resolution for failing to comply with international demands over its disputed nuclear activities. Russia and China – believed to be Iranian allies – joined the US and other western powers in adopting the resolution, which expressed "serious concerns" about Tehran's nuclear programme. Only Cuba voted against the measure. | Abbasi-Davani's remarks come only a week after an overwhelming majority of member states at the IAEA rebuked Iran in a new resolution for failing to comply with international demands over its disputed nuclear activities. Russia and China – believed to be Iranian allies – joined the US and other western powers in adopting the resolution, which expressed "serious concerns" about Tehran's nuclear programme. Only Cuba voted against the measure. |
| In response to the resolution, the British foreign office minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, said it would send a clear message to Tehran about "the international community's determination that Iran must now urgently address the serious concerns about its nuclear programme". | In response to the resolution, the British foreign office minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, said it would send a clear message to Tehran about "the international community's determination that Iran must now urgently address the serious concerns about its nuclear programme". |
| He said: "The IAEA's latest report confirmed that Iran is expanding its uranium enrichment capacity in direct contravention of IAEA board and security council resolutions, and that it is failing to cooperate with the agency to address the possible military dimensions of its nuclear programme." | He said: "The IAEA's latest report confirmed that Iran is expanding its uranium enrichment capacity in direct contravention of IAEA board and security council resolutions, and that it is failing to cooperate with the agency to address the possible military dimensions of its nuclear programme." |
| Despite concerns, Burt said his country sought "a negotiated solution" with Iran. "The onus is on Iran to take concrete steps to cooperate fully with the agency and comply with all its international obligations. Until it does, the international pressure on Iran will only increase." | Despite concerns, Burt said his country sought "a negotiated solution" with Iran. "The onus is on Iran to take concrete steps to cooperate fully with the agency and comply with all its international obligations. Until it does, the international pressure on Iran will only increase." |
| On Sunday, the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, called on the US to set "red lines" for Iran over its nuclear programme and warned that Tehran might be just six or seven months away from being able to build a nuclear bomb. Unlike Netanyahu, Americans believe that Iranian authorities have not yet taken the decision to make a bomb. | On Sunday, the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, called on the US to set "red lines" for Iran over its nuclear programme and warned that Tehran might be just six or seven months away from being able to build a nuclear bomb. Unlike Netanyahu, Americans believe that Iranian authorities have not yet taken the decision to make a bomb. |
| The Iranian authorities say their nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes but many western governments believe it has military applications. | The Iranian authorities say their nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes but many western governments believe it has military applications. |
| Iran's English-language television, Press TV, reported on Monday that the country's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, and the EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, would hold talks in Istanbul on Tuesday. | Iran's English-language television, Press TV, reported on Monday that the country's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, and the EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, would hold talks in Istanbul on Tuesday. |
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