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Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast.
 (Reuters)
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Last update - 20:44 24/11/2009
World powers urge Iran to stop 'stonewalling' IAEA probe
By News Agencies
Tags: Israel news, United Nations 

Six world powers have drafted a resolution urging Iran to clarify the purpose of its previously secret uranium enrichment site and confirm it has no more hidden atomic work, diplomats said on Tuesday.

The draft text, backed by the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China, is to be presented at the year-end meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation governing board that starts on Thursday.

The diplomats say the draft urges Iran to stop stonewalling an IAEA probe of allegations it tried to develop nuclear weapons.
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Russian and Chinese support could be significant since they have often blocked tougher action against Iran in the IAEA's governing body and the UN Security Council, including the pursuit of tough sanctions.

Nevertheless, it was not certain if the draft text would muster a majority among IAEA governors, almost half of whom belong to a developing nation bloc that includes Iran.

The IAEA said in a report last week that Iran's late admission of the Fordow enrichment plant had eroded confidence that it was not harbouring more secret activity.

The draft resolution will call on Iran to provide the agency with a timeline of the site's design and construction, diplomats familiar with its content told Reuters, asking for anonymity due to the subject's political sensitivity.

"There was a strong measure of agreement at the P5+1 meeting in Brussels last week that the (Fordow) revelation was a serious new development," one senior diplomat said.

Iran revealed the site to the IAEA in September, two years after it said construction began. The IAEA said Iran was legally bound to own up about the plant as soon as plans were drawn.

The eight-point resolution draft highlighted this and also urged Iran to cooperate fully with the agency to clear up all outstanding issues about its nuclear work.

Western powers fear Iran is using the cover of a civilian nuclear programme to develop bomb-making capability. Iran denies this and says its atomic work is for peaceful uses only, like power generation.

The last IAEA board resolution passed against Iran was in February 2006 when governors referred Tehran's case to the UN Security Council over its refusal to suspend enrichment and open up completely to IAEA inspections and investigations.

The diplomats familiar with the resolution spoke Tuesday, two days before the board meeting. They demanded anonymity because their information was confidential.

The IAEA has proposed Turkey as a venue for a uranium-exchange deal which will guarantee that the nuclear sight recently discovered will not continue to enrich uranium.

Iran has not rejected a uranium-exchange deal but first wants guarantees that it would be fully implemented, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.

"We have not disagreed with the deal but we just want assurances that we have the required fuel when our low-enriched uranium leaves the country," he said.

The spokesman was referring to a deal brokered by the IAEA to export Iranian low-grade enriched uranium (LEU) to Russia and France, where it would be processed for use as fuel in Tehran's medical-purpose reactor.

Iran apparently rejected the deal last week, and Foreign Minister Manochehr Mottaki said the government would only accept the fuel deal if the swap of low-enriched uranium for nuclear fuel were to be effected simultaneously.

"Therefore we want 100 per cent guarantees and for this reason want the swap to be made on Iranian soil," Mehmanparast added.

Mehmanparast said Iran had every right to insist on the guarantees as the country had several times seen the world powers fail to keep their promises in the past.

"The two other alternatives would be purchasing the fuel or make the LEU processing by ourselves," the spokesman said.

With regards to Turkey's readiness store the Iran's uranium until the fuel was delivered, Mehmanparast said Iran would welcome any option which would be in line with national interests and preserving its nuclear rights.

On Monday, the IRNA news agency quoted deputy chief nuclear negotiator Ali Baqeri as saying that if the exchange deal failed, Iran would enrich the uranium itself.

The world powers have warned Iran of renewed financial sanctions if Tehran did not make a clear reply by the end of the year.
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  1.   Look, I keep tellin` ya`.... 12:28  |  Johnboy 24/11/09
  2.   iran shouldn`t negotiate at all, since it is their legal right ! 14:27  |  palestinian 24/11/09
  3.   re-to the palestinian in washington? 15:45  |  hafiz 24/11/09
  4.   They must negotiate 16:35  |  Abu 24/11/09
  5.   Why should Iran negotiate? - palestinian 21:25  |  Mark Lincoln 24/11/09
  6.   #1 So what`s the solution? 21:40  |  Read this, find out 24/11/09
  7.   #2 Iran signed the NPT, nukes aren`t their legal right. 21:41  |  Dan 24/11/09
  8.   P5+1 Should Make Deal 22:24  |  Mark of Lewiston 24/11/09
  9.   Johnboy Iran is negotiating with Uranium that it shouldn`t have 02:21  |  Peter Williams 25/11/09
  10.   Impotent U.N. 03:52  |  Trey Spartanheinz 25/11/09
  11.   Negotiation 04:01  |  US taxpayer 25/11/09
  12.   el baridei, iran = moslem brother hood 04:40  |  shoot 25/11/09
  13.   To palestinian and hafiz 04:47  |  Brad 25/11/09
  14.   Johnboy - you talk so much 05:01  |  *BEN JABO 25/11/09
  15.   What Haaretz deems unacceptable. - palestinian 05:37  |  Mark Lincoln 25/11/09
  16.   #5 what do you mean "uranium it shouldn`t have" peter williams? 08:29  |  eric 25/11/09
  17.   #9 Peter Williams. 10:39  |  Johnboy 25/11/09
  18.   Eric UNSC 1696 says you`re wrong. 12:16  |  Peter Williams 25/11/09
  19.   Peter #18--re: Security Council Resolutions... 16:12  |  Profco 25/11/09
  20.   Profco 21:08  |  Peter Williams 25/11/09
  21.   #18 peter, unsc1696 is NOT a law; what "law" does iran violate? 21:45  |  eric 25/11/09
  22.   #18 peter, unsc resolutions are NOT "laws" 09:18  |  eric 26/11/09
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