IAEA holds final talks with Tehran on Iran’s centrifuges

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Source: CCTV.com | 10-30-2007 08:51

IAEA chief Mohamed Elbaradei(File photo)

A high-ranking delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency is holding the final round of talks with Iran over the country's disputed nuclear program.

The UN nuclear chief has called Iran's refusal to suspend uranium enrichment or halt construction of a nuclear reactor "regrettable". But he says Tehran can help resolve the dispute if it clears up all suspicions about its nuclear activities.

The talks focus on Iran's use of P1 centrifuges and its research into the more sophisticated P2 for enriching uranium. The ongoing talks are seen to be crucial. The outcome will become the basis for a report to be drafted by IAEA chief Mohamed Elbaradei about the status of Iran's uranium enrichment program. He will submit the report to the Board of Governors and the UN Security Council in November.

ElBaradei says Iran's cooperation is key to the report. He says so far Iran has provided information showing its declared nuclear material has not been diverted.

ElBaradei said, "The agency has been able to verify the non division of declared nuclear material in Iran. Iran has continued to provide access and reporting needed to enable agency verification in this regard."

IAEA experts want to know more about unexplained traces of plutonium and enriched uranium found last year at a nuclear waste facility and apparent black market purchases of polonium 210 - which can act as a trigger for a nuclear device. They also want information about an alleged secret uranium processing project linked by US intelligence to a nuclear weapons program.

Iran insists its enrichment activities are only intended to produce fuel for nuclear reactors to generate electricity, but the US, the EU and others suspect Tehran is seeking to enrich uranium for nuclear bombs.

Editor:Du Xiaodan