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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UN asks Iran for swifter answers | UN asks Iran for swifter answers |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog has asked Iran to speed up co-operation over its nuclear programme. | The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog has asked Iran to speed up co-operation over its nuclear programme. |
| International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei was speaking at the start of a two-day visit to Iran. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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 said he had asked Iran "to give us maximum transparency and provide assurances about all present nuclear activities". | He said he had asked Iran "to give us maximum transparency and provide assurances about all present nuclear activities". |
| Mr Aghazadeh said the IAEA could be assured of Iran's full co-operation. | 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. | 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. | 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 uranium | Enriching uranium |
| He has been trying to resolve various issues about the history of Iran's nuclear programme. | He has been trying to resolve various issues about the history of Iran's nuclear programme. |
| Mr ElBaradei wants maximum transparency from Iran | |
| 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 Jon 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. |