No concrete proof that Iran has or has had nuclear programme – UN atomic watchdog

Refuting a recent media report, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today reiterated that the body has no concrete proof that Iran has or has ever had a nuclear weapons programme.

Speaking at the IAEA’s Board of Governors meeting last week, Director General Mohamed ElBaradei stressed that allegations that the agency is withholding information on Iran are both politically motivated and completely baseless.

“The Agency receives information from a variety of sources that may have relevance to the implementation of safeguards,” it said in a statement issued in Vienna, adding that all of this information is considered by experts.

Today’s statement also emphasized that all relevant information that has gone through this process has already been provided to the 35-member Board of Governors through the Director General’s reports.

Mr. ElBaradei warned last week that the IAEA has reached a deadlock with Iran over most aspects of its nuclear programme as he urged the country to credibly answer the international community’s concerns over potential military dimensions to the programme.

Although the country had cooperated on some issues, such as improving safeguards at a fuel enrichment plant, “on all other issues, however, there is stalemate.

“Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities or its work on heavy water-related projects as required by the Security Council, nor has Iran implemented the additional protocol,” Mr. ElBaradei said.

He called on Iran “to respond fully to all the questions raised by the agency in order to exclude the possibility of there being military dimensions to its nuclear programme.”