In Iran, IAEA chief sees uranium enrichment facility under construction

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, began a long-scheduled visit to Iran today, starting with a trip to a site that the authorities describe as a uranium enrichment facility under construction.

Mr. ElBaradei’s three-day trip, which included the visit to Natanz, is at the invitation of the Iranian Government and was originally slated for December before being rescheduled for this month, an IAEA spokesman in New York said.

The IAEA Director-General is scheduled to meet with President Mohammed Khatami and other senior officials tomorrow before wrapping up his visit Sunday with a press conference.