Iran agrees to tougher nuclear inspections

[DUreader]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,12858,1064233,00.html




Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the international
atomic energy agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear
watchdog, today said that Iran had agreed to a
tougher inspection regime of its nuclear
programmes.

Speaking in Tehran, where he arrived last night in
an attempt to avert an international crisis over an
alleged weapons programme, Mr ElBaradei said
that Iran's national security chief, Hassan Rohani,
had told him he would accept inspection visits
with no advance notice.

"I was assured by Dr Rohani that the Islamic
Republic of Iran will clarify all the outstanding
issues for us to be able to verify all aspects of
Iran's nuclear activities," he told reporters.

The IAEA has given Iran until October 31 to prove
that it does not have a nuclear weapons
programme. If the watchdog is not satisfied that it
does not, it can refer the matter to the UN
security council, opening the way for the possible
imposition of sanctions.