Iran considers UN proposal for unrestricted nuclear inspections
The move came a day after the head of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called on Iran to sign an additional protocol of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
Britain yesterday said if Iran did not sign, its trade relations with the European Union might be set back.
The protocol provides for IAEA officials to visit any part of a country’s nuclear industry without prior notice.
“We are studying positively the appeal by the IAEAto sign an additional protocol,” said the spokesman of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, Khalil Mousavi.
IAEA head Mohamed El-Baradei asked for Iran’s signature after presenting a report on Iran’s nuclear programme to the agency’s board. The study said Iran had failed to honour promises to disclose its use of nuclear material.
Mr El-Baradei said Iran’s acceptance of the protocol would give the agency a chance to “provide credible assurances regarding the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities”.
The US suspects Iran is secretly seeking to build a nuclear bomb. It wants the agency to declare Iran in violation of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. Mr Mousavi said the United States would fail to persuade the IAEA to rule against Iran.
He said: “We are sure the IAEA will not declare Iran in violation of the treaty, as the US wants the agency to do. America is going to fail.
“We are happy with Russia’s position. Every country that doesn’t follow America’s politically motivated policy will support us.”
Russia is helping Iran build a 1,000-megawatt reactor outside the southern port of Bushehr. Russia said last month the reactor would become operational in 2005.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the EU would probably halt trade talks with Iran unless it allows the more intrusive inspections of the IAEA protocol and makes progress on human rights.
There was no immediate reaction to Mr Straw’s comment from Iranian officials.
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