Security
Iran: Tehran pursuing its nuclear programme, says UN
Tehran, 27 May (AKI) - Iran is ignoring United Nations' demands that it suspend its uranium enrichment programme, according to the organisation's nuclear watchdog.
"Contrary to the decisions of the (UN) Security Council, Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities," the International Atomic Energy Agency wrote in its latest report released on Monday.
The IAEA said Tehran had 3,500 uranium enrichment centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear facility, slightly more than earlier this year.
The organisation has been pressing Tehran for a response to western intelligence claims that Iran has covertly studied nuclear bombs.
Iran has denied that its uranium enrichment programme is being used for a nuclear weapon, insisting it is only for generating electricity.
Authorities have stated that its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes, but some other countries contend that it is driven by military ambitions.
The IAEA said Iran was holding back information about explosives tests relating to its nuclear programme and that it had been denied access to nuclear-related sites.
The new report covers developments since the last report issued by IAEA director Mohamed El Baradei in February.
On 3 March, the UN Security Council asked El Baradei to issue a report within 90 days "on whether Iran has established full and sustained suspension of all activities mentioned in resolution 1737 (2006), as well as on the process of Iranian compliance with all steps required by the IAEA Board" and other relevant resolutions.
Adopted in December 2006, resolution 1737 banned trade with Iran in all materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to the country's enrichment-related, reprocessing or development of nuclear-weapon delivery systems.
In March, the council imposed further sanctions against Iran, including the inspection of cargo suspected of carrying prohibited goods, the tighter monitoring of financial institutions and the extension of travel bans and asset freezes, over its nuclear programme.
The IAEA's 35-member Board of Governors will discuss the new report at its next meeting in Vienna on 2 June.
Iran's nuclear programme has been a matter of international concern since the discovery in 2003 that Iran had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"Contrary to the decisions of the (UN) Security Council, Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities," the International Atomic Energy Agency wrote in its latest report released on Monday.
The IAEA said Tehran had 3,500 uranium enrichment centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear facility, slightly more than earlier this year.
The organisation has been pressing Tehran for a response to western intelligence claims that Iran has covertly studied nuclear bombs.
Iran has denied that its uranium enrichment programme is being used for a nuclear weapon, insisting it is only for generating electricity.
Authorities have stated that its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes, but some other countries contend that it is driven by military ambitions.
The IAEA said Iran was holding back information about explosives tests relating to its nuclear programme and that it had been denied access to nuclear-related sites.
The new report covers developments since the last report issued by IAEA director Mohamed El Baradei in February.
On 3 March, the UN Security Council asked El Baradei to issue a report within 90 days "on whether Iran has established full and sustained suspension of all activities mentioned in resolution 1737 (2006), as well as on the process of Iranian compliance with all steps required by the IAEA Board" and other relevant resolutions.
Adopted in December 2006, resolution 1737 banned trade with Iran in all materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to the country's enrichment-related, reprocessing or development of nuclear-weapon delivery systems.
In March, the council imposed further sanctions against Iran, including the inspection of cargo suspected of carrying prohibited goods, the tighter monitoring of financial institutions and the extension of travel bans and asset freezes, over its nuclear programme.
The IAEA's 35-member Board of Governors will discuss the new report at its next meeting in Vienna on 2 June.
Iran's nuclear programme has been a matter of international concern since the discovery in 2003 that Iran had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
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