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UN nuclear head in Iran for talks UN asks Iran for swifter answers
(about 2 hours later)
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, is holding talks in Tehran on Iran's nuclear programme. The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog has asked Iran to speed up co-operation over its nuclear programme.
During the two-day visit, he is expected to meet Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei was speaking at the start of a two-day visit to Iran.
Mr ElBaradei is hoping to clarify the scope of Iran's nuclear enrichment programme, which the West fears could be used to produce a bomb.Mr ElBaradei is hoping to clarify the scope of Iran's nuclear enrichment programme, which the West fears could be used to produce a bomb.
Tehran insists the programme is solely to generate electricity.Tehran insists the programme is solely to generate electricity.
The deputy head of Iran's nuclear agency, Mohammed Saeedi, said co-operation with the IAEA had entered a new phase. Mr ElBaradei said he had held a "friendly and frank" exchange of views on Friday with the head of Iran's atomic energy organisation, Gholam Reza Aghazadeh.
As well as meeting the Iranian president, Mr ElBaradei is expected to hold talks with top officials including Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. "I discussed with (Mr Aghazadeh) how we can work together to accelerate the pace of our co-operation to clarify all outstanding issues before my report in March," Mr ElBaradei said.
He has been trying to resolve various issues about the history of Iran's nuclear programme. He said he had asked Iran "to give us maximum transparency and provide assurances about all present nuclear activities".
A spokeswoman said he was making the current visit with the hope of "resolving all remaining outstanding issues and enabling the agency to provide assurance about Iran's past and present activities". Mr Aghazadeh said the IAEA could be assured of Iran's full co-operation.
Ahead of Mr ElBaradei's visit the deputy head of Iran's nuclear agency, Mohammed Saeedi, said co-operation with the IAEA had entered a new phase.
As well as meeting the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mr ElBaradei is expected to hold talks with top officials including Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.
Enriching uraniumEnriching uranium
He has been trying to resolve various issues about the history of Iran's nuclear programme.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is only to provide energyIran insists its nuclear programme is only to provide energy
Mr ElBaradei will also be looking at how to monitor Iran's future nuclear activities.Mr ElBaradei will also be looking at how to monitor Iran's future nuclear activities.
But so far he has made little progress in persuading Iran to stop the controversial process of enriching uranium, says the BBC's John Leyne in Tehran.But so far he has made little progress in persuading Iran to stop the controversial process of enriching uranium, says the BBC's John Leyne in Tehran.
The US is currently pushing for a third round of UN sanctions against Iran over its refusal to stop enriching uranium, a process which can be used both to make atomic fuel and a bomb.The US is currently pushing for a third round of UN sanctions against Iran over its refusal to stop enriching uranium, a process which can be used both to make atomic fuel and a bomb.
Washington has said it believes Iran is planning to build a nuclear bomb.Washington has said it believes Iran is planning to build a nuclear bomb.
Its campaign for tougher sanctions lost some steam when a US intelligence report last month suggested Iran had abandoned its nuclear weapons programme in 2003.Its campaign for tougher sanctions lost some steam when a US intelligence report last month suggested Iran had abandoned its nuclear weapons programme in 2003.
But US President George W Bush, who is currently visiting the region, still says that Iran is a threat to world security.But US President George W Bush, who is currently visiting the region, still says that Iran is a threat to world security.
"Iran will be a threat to world peace if the international community does not come together and prevent that nation from the development of the know-how to build a nuclear weapon," Mr Bush said on Wednesday during a visit to Israel."Iran will be a threat to world peace if the international community does not come together and prevent that nation from the development of the know-how to build a nuclear weapon," Mr Bush said on Wednesday during a visit to Israel.
Tehran insists that its sole aim is to generate electricity that does not rely on a finite supply of fossil fuels.Tehran insists that its sole aim is to generate electricity that does not rely on a finite supply of fossil fuels.