Iran Facilitates Nuclear Site Inspections, UN Says

Iran is giving more access to its
nuclear sites and has made ``progress'' in its effort to show
that its program doesn't violate international treaties, the
United Nations nuclear watchdog said.
``Iran has facilitated Agency access under its safeguards
agreement and additional protocol to nuclear materials and
facilities,'' International Atomic Energy Agency Director General
Mohammed ElBaradei told the group's board of governors today in a
statement.
Iran, with the second highest level of oil reserves in the
world, is undergoing IAEA inspections to ensure that its nuclear
program is designed to produce energy and not weapons. The U.S.
has accused the Islamic Republic of harboring a secret program to
build an atomic bomb.
The IAEA called on Iran to continue giving it information.
The agency pinpointed requests that, if satisfied by Iran, could
result in a partial end of its investigation by September. The
IAEA wants more access to research sites at Lavisan-Shian and
Parchin as well as documentation about the country's centrifuge
enrichment program.
``We are inching forward but I'd like to have a more speedy
cooperation,'' ElBaradei, 62, said yesterday after being
appointed to a third four-year term heading the Vienna-based
agency.

Supply Network

The IAEA is trying to identify the international nuclear
supply network that enabled Iran to build its centrifuge program.
The agency is asking Iran to supply information to inspectors
about offers for equipment. Pakistan is cooperating with the
agency to help it determine the extent of its involvement in
Iran's program.
Centrifuges spin at supersonic speeds to enrich uranium
hexafluoride gas into nuclear fuel. Iran wants to enrich its own
fuel using centrifuges while the U.S. wants it to stop enrichment
activities altogether. Iran is negotiating with British, French
and German diplomats in search of a compromise.
Separately, the IAEA sees the ``urgency of finding a
solution to the current situation'' in North Korea, ElBaradei
said. Agency inspectors haven't visited the country since the
government of Kim Jong Il expelled them in December 2002.