Iran, Syria have not carried out sufficient cooperation in clarifying nuke issues: IAEA

VIENNA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in its latest reports on Iranian and Syrian nuclear issues on Friday that both countries have not carried out sufficient cooperation with IAEA in clarifying relevant issues.

IAEA Director General Mohammed el-Baradei pointed out in the report that IAEA still lacks necessary information to confirm whether Iran's nuclear program involves military nature, and this issue is actually not clarified.

With regard to Iran's uranium enrichment, the report pointed out that the number of Iran's centrifuges for uranium enrichment is still on the rise. However, the working condition for IAEA inspectors in Iran has been improved, and the inspectors were allowed access to a nuclear reactor which is under construction.

It is reported that Iran has installed a total of more than 8,300 centrifuges, but only 4,600 are actually in use due to maintenance, which means 300 less than the number in the last report.

The western countries led by the United States have been accusing Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the disguise of developing civilian nuclear power, on which Iran firmly denied and stressed that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.

IAEA also released a report on Syria's potential nuclear issue on the same day, criticizing the Syrian government for a lack of cooperation with the agency in clarifying the nature of its destroyed facility.

The report pointed out that Syria refused IAEA inspectors to re-enter and take samples in the ruins of the facility that was bombed by Israel.

In 2007, Israel sent fighters to blow down a facility in Syria, claiming it to be a base for secret nuclear weapon development. The United States also provided IAEA intelligence, confirming Israel's accusation, but Syria insisted it be a normal military establishment.

Last year, IAEA inspectors found traces of unnatural uranium particles on the site, but the source of these particles can not be confirmed, and no conclusion has been reached so far. Syria then denied IAEA inspectors entry into relevant areas on the grounds that the facility is of military importance.