UN watchdog agency deplores Iran’s lack of cooperation on nuclear programme

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors adopted a resolution today deploring the fact that, overall, Iran’s cooperation with it has not been as “full, timely and proactive” as it should have been.

The resolution unanimously approved by the 35-member Board underlined that, with the passage of time, “it is becoming ever more important that Iran work proactively to enable the Agency to gain a full understanding of Iran’s enrichment programme by providing all relevant information.”

The resolution also called on Iran to urgently take all necessary steps to help resolve all of the IAEA’s outstanding questions, including those related to uranium contamination found at various locations in the country, and the nature and scope of its P-2 centrifuge programme.

“Make no mistake we have been making very good process in understanding the nature and extent of Iran’s nuclear programme,” IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei said at a press conference in Vienna.

“But at the same time, as I have indicated and the Board confirms that, we still have an important, central question, and that is has Iran declared fully to us its enrichment program? That is really the issue which is still before us. The issue that I would like to see accelerated, [with] active corporation on the part of Iran,” he added.