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UN mixed on Iran nuclear report Mixed UN nuclear report for Iran
(about 2 hours later)
The UN nuclear watchdog has said Iran has provided it with information about its past nuclear activities as agreed under a work plan made in August. The UN nuclear watchdog says Iran has supplied transparent data on its past nuclear activities but adds it has limited knowledge of its current work.
But a new IAEA report also said Iran had not suspended uranium enrichment work as demanded by the UN Security Council and had 3,000 centrifuges. The IAEA also found in a report that Tehran was still enriching uranium in defiance of the UN Security Council.
The US said it proved Tehran continued to defy UN calls to suspend enrichment and should face further sanctions. Iran said the report was a clean bill of health but the US said it showed Tehran was not co-operating.
Iran said the report showed it had been transparent and UN pressure invalid. The BBC's Jon Leyne says Iran probably has done enough to fend off any new UN sanctions and has deferred the crisis.
IAEA REPORT Report to IAEA Board of Governors on Iranian nuclear programme Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here IAEA REPORT Report to IAEA Board of Governors on Iranian nuclear programme Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here class="" href="either url here">Sanctions pressure continues
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report will form the basis for deliberations when representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with Germany, meet on Monday in Brussels. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreed a deal in August with Iran to answer outstanding questions as part of a four-year probe into its nuclear drive.
On Tuesday, diplomats said Iran had given the IAEA a document containing design information that could be used for parts of a nuclear weapon. The IAEA had been asking Iran for the document since 2005. The confidential IAEA report will form the basis for deliberations when representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with Germany, meet on Monday in Brussels.
'Reactive' co-operation'Reactive' co-operation
The confidential report by IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei, a copy of which was obtained by the BBC, said Iran had made progress in responding to questions about its past nuclear activities. The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says that while a number of questions about Iran's past nuclear work have been answered, the report says the IAEA's knowledge about Tehran's current nuclear programme is diminishing.
The report, a copy of which was obtained by the BBC, found Tehran had been operating 3,000 centrifuges, the machines used to enrich uranium, at its plant at Natanz.
But the IAEA also noted the answers Iran had given about the history of its centrifuge programme were consistent with the agency's own findings.
The report by IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei praised Iran for making progress in responding to questions about its past nuclear activities.
"Iran has provided sufficient access to individuals and has responded in a timely manner to questions and provided clarifications and amplifications on issues raised in the context of the work plan," the report said."Iran has provided sufficient access to individuals and has responded in a timely manner to questions and provided clarifications and amplifications on issues raised in the context of the work plan," the report said.
Iran says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes Q&A: Iran nuclear row Iran's key nuclear sitesIran says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes Q&A: Iran nuclear row Iran's key nuclear sites
It also said the answers Iran had given about the history of its centrifuge programme, the machines used to enrich uranium, were consistent with the IAEA's own findings. A senior UN official said this was a significant step forward.
A senior UN official said this is a significant step forward.
However, the report said Iran's co-operation with the IAEA had been "reactive" rather than "pro-active" and that the IAEA was continuing to check whether Iran's declarations were complete.However, the report said Iran's co-operation with the IAEA had been "reactive" rather than "pro-active" and that the IAEA was continuing to check whether Iran's declarations were complete.
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says that while a number of questions about Iran's past nuclear work have been answered, the report says the IAEA's knowledge about Tehran's current nuclear programme is diminishing. On Tuesday, diplomats said Iran had given the IAEA a document containing design information that could be used for parts of a nuclear weapon. The IAEA had been asking Iran for the document since 2005.
It said Iran was still continuing its uranium enrichment work in defiance of the UN Security Council and had been operating 3,000 centrifuges at its plant at Natanz.
Western powers are concerned because, while enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, highly enriched uranium can also be used to make nuclear bombs.Western powers are concerned because, while enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, highly enriched uranium can also be used to make nuclear bombs.
Tehran has argued that it needs nuclear power and insists its intentions are entirely peaceful.Tehran has argued that it needs nuclear power and insists its intentions are entirely peaceful.
Sanctions threatSanctions threat
At a news conference held after the report was given to the IAEA board and the Security Council, Iran's new chief nuclear negotiator said it would be "quite enlightening for all those who had any ambiguities. At a Tehran news conference held after the report was given to the IAEA board and the Security Council, Iran's new chief nuclear negotiator welcomed the findings.
This report sadly makes clear that Iran seems uninterested in working with the rest of the world Dana PerinoWhite House spokeswomanThis report sadly makes clear that Iran seems uninterested in working with the rest of the world Dana PerinoWhite House spokeswoman
"It clarifies that many of those ambiguities that were raised and accordingly certain measures were taken, such as referring Iran's case to the UN Security Council, are no longer valid," Saeed Jalili said. Saeed Jalili said: "For those who had doubts about the Iranian nuclear programme, the report is very clear and indicates that the basis upon which the nuclear case was referred to the Security Council has collapsed."
However, the US said the IAEA confirmation of Iran's expanding uranium enrichment programme showed that Iran was continuing to defy world demands. However, the US said the IAEA confirmation of Iran's expanding uranium enrichment programme backed up their argument that Tehran was continuing to defy world demands.
"This report sadly makes clear that Iran seems uninterested in working with the rest of the world," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said: "The United States will work with our partners on the UN Security Council and Germany as we move towards a third set of Security Council sanctions."
"The United States will work with our partners on the UN Security Council and Germany as we move towards a third set of Security Council sanctions," she added.