Iran seeks nuclear freeze opt-outs
VIENNA, Austria -- The head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog says Iran is insisting it be allowed to operate some uranium enrichment machinery before a key meeting of his agency that could lead to sanctions against Tehran.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters on Thursday he hoped the dispute would be resolved within 24 hours.
He said Tehran was insisting that 20 centrifuges -- which purify uranium for use as fuel in nuclear power plants or atomic bombs -- be exempt from an agreement to freeze uranium enrichment and related activities.
"I'm going to report that we have completed our work with regard to verification of the suspension with one exception, the request by Iran to exempt 20 centrifuges for (research and development) without using nuclear material," ElBaradei told reporters before the IAEA governing board meeting in Vienna.
This request by Iran has resulted in a dispute between Iran and the EU, which ElBaradei said he hoped would be resolved "within 24 hours."
Western diplomats told Reuters that a European-Iranian accord for Tehran to freeze uranium enrichment appeared in jeopardy.
The diplomats said Iran seemed not to be ready to suspend its uranium enrichment program fully and was backing out of a pledge to France, Britain and Germany.
Speaking to CNN, IAEA spokesman Mark Gwozdecky said Iran was under no legal obligation to the agency to suspend the program.
"Those centrifuges and that whole question of suspension was part of a deal between the Europeans and Iran to help to build confidence -- to suspend the program while diplomacy could act and hopefully build confidence in the international community of Iran's intentions," Gwozdecky said.
"(Iran's) obligation (to the IAEA) is to ensure inspections occur and that all of their programs are monitored, but not necessarily suspended."
Iran gave the EU a pledge last week that it would suspend its entire uranium enrichment program and all related activities in a bid to avoid possible economic sanctions by the U.N. Security Council. The freeze, aimed at preventing Iran from making bomb-grade uranium, took effect Monday.
Iran first promised the EU it would freeze its enrichment program in October 2003 but never entirely halted the work.
Meanwhile the EU's "Big Three," Britain, France and Germany, have circulated a draft resolution at the IAEA that demands Tehran keep frozen all nuclear work that could help it develop fuel for atomic weapons.
The main topic of the meeting of the IAEA's 35-member board is the agency's two-year investigation into Iran's nuclear program. The IAEA has found no clear proof that Tehran plans to make atomic arms, but is concerned Iran may possess hidden nuclear facilities.
It will also discuss South Korea's undeclared experiments with weapons-grade plutonium and enriched uranium.
