IAEA chief in Iran for nuclear talks

The head of the UN atomic agency arrived in Iran today and is expected to urge the government to allow unfettered inspections of its nuclear sites.

Mohamed ElBaradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is due to meet President Mohammad Khatami and the head of Iran’s nuclear programme.

He has said he wants Iran to sign an additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. It would give the agency’s inspectors the right to visit any Iranian nuclear site without prior notice.

ElBaradei is also expected to urge the government to allow inspectors to take environmental samples at a location where it has allegedly enriched uranium – a process that can be used to produce nuclear weapons.

The United States suspects Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb, and has called for greater transparency of its nuclear programme.

Iran denies it has ambitions to build a nuclear bomb, instead insisting its nuclear programme is for the peaceful purpose of generating electrical power, particularly after its oil reserves dwindle.

Its government has said it would agree to unfettered inspections if it is granted access to advanced nuclear technology.

Iran accuses Washington of using its influence with other nuclear nations to block the sale of such technology.

Iran is in the final stages of building, with Russian technology, its first nuclear power plant outside the southern city of Bushehr.