• Published 19:27 06.09.10
  • Latest update 19:27 06.09.10

Iran dismisses UN report citing boost in nuclear work despite sanctions

In confidential report, IAEA sees rise in uranium enrichment and voices concern about what it called Iran's 'repeated objection' to the agency's choice of inspectors working in the country.

Tags: Israel news Iran nuclear UN

Iran's total production of low-enriched uranium has risen by around 15 percent since May to reach 2.8 tons, according to a United Nations nuclear watchdog report, showing Tehran is pushing ahead with disputed work despite tougher sanctions.

Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy to the IAEA, said the report by new agency chief Yukiya Amano "has damaged the agency's technical reputation" and was "not balanced" compared to those of his predecessor, Mohamed ElBaradei.

Bushehr Iran nuclear facility

Iranian technicians at work at the Bushehr Nuclear Plant in Iran, November 2009.

Photo by: AP

He said all of Iran's nuclear activities were under the IAEA's "complete supervision," Mehr News Agency reported.

The confidential report, obtained by Reuters on Monday, said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) remained concerned about possible activity in the Islamic Republic to develop a nuclear payload for a missile.

The White House called the findings "troubling" and said it showed Tehran was still trying to develop a nuclear weapons capability.

"The IAEA's latest report on Iran again demonstrates that Iran is refusing to comply with its international nuclear obligations, and continues its effort to expand its nuclear program and move closer to a nuclear weapons capability," White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

The IAEA also voiced concern in its report about what it called Iran's "repeated objection" to the agency's choice of inspectors working in the country, after Tehran barred two UN nuclear inspectors from entering in June.

"The agency rejects the basis upon which Iran has sought to justify its objection," the report said, also referring to earlier cases where Iran raised such objections.

"It is also concerned that the repeated objection to the designation of experienced inspectors hampers the inspection process and detracts from the agency's ability to implement safeguards in Iran," it added.

Western powers are likely to see the report's findings as backing up their suspicions that Tehran is seeking to build nuclear bombs and underlining the need for the country to enter serious negotiations to curb its nuclear program.

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