ElBaradei's visit will press Iran on clarification of nuclear programs

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, October 14, 2003

ElBaradei's visit will press Iran on clarification of nuclear programs

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The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency will visit Iran later this week, with the purpose of pressing Tehran to clarify outstanding questions about its alleged quest of nuclear programs, a statement by the agency said Monday.

The purpose of the visit by Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, the DirectorGeneral of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is to urge Iran to provide the IAEA, during the visit, with all the remaining information required to clarify important questions still outstanding about Iran's nuclear programs.

ElBaradei's visit was scheduled just 15 days before the Oct. 31deadline imposed by the IAEA, demanding that Iran dispel suspicions centering on its nuclear programs.

Earlier this year, IAEA inspectors found traces of weapons-grade enriched uranium in several Iranian nuclear facilities, which led to the imposition of the deadline.

ElBaradei earlier told The Financial Times that Iran had not provided the IAEA with necessary information to prove the civiliannature of its nuclear activity. Iran had repeated the civilian nature of its nuclear activity.

Iran insisted that it would provide the inspectors with necessary cooperation within the framework of its obligation. Reports say Iran has submitted a report about Natans nuclear facility to the inspection group, and allowed inspectors to install monitors to record undeclared nuclear activity there.

One Iranian opposition group claimed on Monday that Iran had been withholding information on its nuclear facilities from the IAEA, and the group promised to provide all details on Iran's undeclared nuclear facilities to the agency the next day.

However, the IAEA said it would analyze all information sourcesbefore comment.

At the invitation of Iran, ElBaradei will leave Vienna on Wednesday for the two-or three-day visit to Tehran, during which he will hold talks with Iranian officials, said an IAEA spokesman.

Iran is a signatory country of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which bans the pursuit of nuclear arms. Iran once threatened to withdraw from the treaty after being accused of developing secret nuclear weapons.

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