UN Watchdog Rebukes Iran on Nuclear Questions

The United Nation's nuclear
technology watchdog has rebuked Iran for providing too
little information on its nuclear program and said it still
has questions about the country's adherence to a treaty
banning the development of atomic weapons.
The 11-page International Atomic Energy Agency report
about Iranian cooperation with international inspectors was
circulated to diplomats today, and a copy was obtained by
Bloomberg News. Mohamed ElBaradei, the IAEA director
general, will present the document to the agency's board of
governors next week.
The Vienna-based agency still has questions about the
origin of uranium found during site inspections in Iran, the
report said. Questions also remain about how and where Iran
obtained centrifuges that can be used to enrich uranium to a
concentration needed for a nuclear bomb.
The report comes as the U.S. is making a case for
increased international pressure on Iran, which says its
nuclear program is peaceful, according to the state-run
Islamic Republic News Agency.

U.S. Concern

John Bolton, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms
control and international security, said in an e-mailed
statement the report highlights ``the Iranian threat to
international peace and security.''
``We view with great concern the IAEA report that Iran
is about to convert 37 tons of 'yellowcake' uranium into
uranium hexaflouride gas, as well as Iran's recent
announcement that it intends to test its gas centrifuges,''
said Bolton.
``Iran's announcements are further strong evidence of
the compelling need to take Iran's nuclear program to the
Security Council,'' he said.
The U.S. is pushing for the IAEA's board of governors
to censure Iran for non-compliance with the nuclear non-
proliferation treaty and send the matter to the UN Security
Council.
The IAEA praised Iran for its cooperation in some
areas. Iran's declarations about its laser enrichment and
uranium conversion activities are ``consistent'' with the
IAEA's findings. The agency also ``welcomes Iran's
willingness to discuss'' nuclear activities at the Lavisan-
Shian site in Tehran.

Iran's Reaction

Hamid-Reza Assefi, spokesman for the Foreign Affairs
Ministry, said the report vindicated Iran, according to the
Islamic Republic News Agency
``Iran is determined to abide by all its commitments
within the framework of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty
and its additional protocol,'' he told IRNA.
The timing of any Iranian progress on building nuclear
weapons isn't clear. The Reuters news agency quoted Bolton
earlier this month as saying that France, Britain and
Germany had been informed by Iran that it could build a
nuclear weapon in three years.
The State Department couldn't confirm whether Bolton
made the statement, spokeswoman Susan Pittman said in a
telephone interview.
``It would be highly unusual for us to discuss
something like that with a third party,'' British foreign
affairs spokesman Simon Shercliff said in an interview.
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday discussed
Iran at a news conference in the Black Sea resort of Sochi
with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French
President Jacques Chirac, saying the Islamic republic
shouldn't be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
Russia is involved in the construction of a nuclear
power plant in Iran.