UN atomic agency chief calls for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities

Following meetings in Tehran with senior officials, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities.

Speaking to the press in Teheran on Thursday, Mohamed ElBaradei emphasized that Iran needs to take confidence-building measures, including suspension of uranium enrichment activities and the clarification of all outstanding issues related to the verification of its nuclear programme.

He also noted that IAEA safeguards inspectors are continuing verification activities in Iran.

Mr. ElBaradei met with Gholamreza Aghazadeh, Vice-President of Iran and Chairman of the country's Atomic Energy Organization and with Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

The Director-General is scheduled to report to the Security Council at the end of April on the Iranian nuclear issue.

An IAEA report was requested by the Security Council on 29 March. On that occasion, in its first official action after the matter was referred to it by the Agency, the Council called on Iran to re-establish full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development.

This action followed Iran's decision to resume its efforts to produce enriched uranium, a substance that can be used for peaceful purposes, such as generating energy, or for making nuclear weapons. The Tehran Government denies claims by the United States and other countries that it is trying to develop nuclear weapons.