UN nuclear watchdog discusses with Iran its request for withdrawal of some inspectors

[oberliner]

23 January 2007 – The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is discussing with officials from Iran the country’s request for withdrawing some of its inspectors, but it still has a sufficient number to continue its efforts seeking to determine whether Tehran’s nuclear programme is solely for the peaceful purpose of producing energy and not for making weapons.

At the same time UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei has reiterated his call for “engagement, dialogue, and negotiation” as the only ways toward a solution of the issue.

Last month the Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran and called for a full and sustained suspension of the uranium enrichment activities which Iran says are purely for producing energy but which other countries including the United States maintain is aimed at making nuclear weapons.

“Details of inspector designation is a confidential matter between the IAEA and the country concerned,” the agency said in a statement on reports that Iran had barred 38 nuclear inspectors on a UN list from entering the country. “In this case, we are discussing with Iran its request for withdrawing the designation of certain safeguards inspectors.”

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=21310&Cr=iran&Cr1=