U.S. Criticizes UN Nuclear Watchdog Over Iran Program

The U.S criticized the United Nations
nuclear watchdog today over its ability to assure the world that
Iran is using atomic technology for peaceful means.
``The IAEA is still not able to provide assurances that Iran
is not pursuing clandestine activities at undeclared locations as
it has been doing for years,'' U.S. Ambassador Jackie Sanders
said today in a statement to the International Atomic Energy
Agency's board of governors in Vienna.
The U.S. accused Iran of ``attempts to hide and mislead''
the international community about its nuclear program. The
Islamic nation told IAEA inspectors this week that they couldn't
make additional visits to its Parchin military complex. Diplomats
are concerned Iran hasn't fulfilled a pledge to halt uranium
processing and is building tunnels near a uranium mine.
The U.S.'s IAEA spokesman, Michael Garuckis, later called
Bloomberg News and said his delegation's criticisms were
primarily intended for Iran and not the IAEA, though the U.S.
stood by Ambassador Sanders' remarks.
Iran also criticized the IAEA, saying leaks to the media
compromise the security of Iranian facilities as the country
faces possible U.S. military strikes. The Islamic republic said
the leaks also jeopardize its relationship with the UN agency.
``When sensitive areas are visited, information that becomes
available to the agency can be available to others that may not
have the best of intentions,'' said Cyrus Nasseri, head of Iran's
delegation to the IAEA. ``Notions of threats of attacks against
Iran's safeguarded and other facilities are still there.''
IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said countries are
entitled to ``different views'' of the agency's work. He also
encouraged Iran to fully cooperate with the inspections.
``This is a program that has been clandestine for almost two
decades,'' ElBaradei said today at a press conference. ``Iran
needs to go out of their way and not to just play by the book but
be more transparent.''

EU Negotiations

The European Union is negotiating with Iran over ways to
curtail its nuclear ambitions in exchange for possible trade
privileges. Iran, which has the world's second-largest oil
reserves, said that its ability to enrich uranium is essential to
its electricity-generating program and isn't negotiable. Uranium
also may be used in a nuclear weapon.
The U.S. has called for Iran to be brought before the UN
Security Council in New York for possible sanctions.
``We regret that Iran failed to report in a timely manner
the excavation of tunnels,'' the French, German and U.K.
delegations to the IAEA, which are leading the EU negotiating
effort, said in a statement to the IAEA board. ``While
transparency visits have taken place, Iran seems to have been
determined to limit their scope.''

March 12 Talks

The EU and Iran said they remain committed to negotiations.
The next set of monthly talks between the two sides are scheduled
for March 12.
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said yesterday that
Iran is now a powerful country because of its access to nuclear
technology, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News
Agency. Iran will never allow itself to be deprived of its right
to peaceful nuclear technology, Kharrazi said in Tehran.
U.S. President George W. Bush, after talks with Russian
President Vladimir Putin in Slovakia last week, said he may
consider dropping his resistance to providing economic incentives
to win Iran's compliance. The U.S. has blocked Iran's bid for
membership of the World Trade Organization 20 times since 2001
and maintains a ban on trade with the country.
The so-called Non-Aligned Movement of nations, representing
13 of the 35 seats on the IAEA's board, said it was satisfied
with agency's progress in Iran. Any U.S. attempt to send Iran to
the Security Council requires a majority vote by the IAEA's
board.

Inspection Unhindered

``The agency's inspection activities appear to be unhindered
and is working smoothly as a routine safeguards matter,''
Malaysian Ambassador Rajmah Hussain told the IAEA's board.
Malaysia heads the Non-Aligned Movement, which was founded in the
1960s.
The Non-Aligned Movement's members on the IAEA board come
from Cuba, Egypt, India, Nigeria, Tunisia, Vietnam, Panama, Peru,
Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Malaysia and Pakistan.