Tehran, Feb 25, IRNA - Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Reza Aqazadeh said Sunday evening that the February 22 report of the chief of the UN nuclear watchdog was 90 percent in Iran's favor.

He made the remarks commenting on the latest report of Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei which verified Iran non-diversion from its peaceful nuclear activities.

"The agency head tried to provide a moderate report despite existing pressures," Aqazadeh said.

He added that the remaining 10 percent of the report was related to some allegations raised against Iran.

"The agency has announced that on six outstanding cases the IAEA findings were in conformity with Iran explanations and it indicates the accuracy of Iran's reports and the closure of those cases," said the official.

He referred to the six cases as the plutonium tests, issues of Iran P1 and P2 centrifuges, the metal uranium documents, contamination in a technical university in Tehran, the Polonium 210 and Gachin mine.

The 11-page report said that the agency has "made good progress in clarifying the outstanding issues that had to do with Iran's past nuclear activities.

"We have managed to clarify all the remaining outstanding issues, which is the scope and nature of Iran's enrichment program," ElBaradei added.

He stressed in the report that in connection with the alleged weaponization studies, the agency has "not seen any indication that these studies were linked to nuclear material."

Citing ElBaradei's report, Aqazadeh said the file will no longer remain at the IAEA's agenda and the agency would monitor Iran as routine work.

Aqazadeh added that Iran has received separate letters from the agency on closing of each of those six cases.

For future monitoring of Iranian nuclear program, the IAEA has called on Iran to accept Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Commenting on the issue, Aqazadeh said, "As for accepting the Additional Protocol we have some considerations. Many issues should be settled in order to pave the way for implementation of the additional protocol in Iran."

Iran says that it will accept the Additional Protocol upon return of Iranian file from the UN Security Council to the IAEA as the agency is the only legitimate body to monitor its member states' nuclear activities.
 

Iran urges Security Council not to damage its own credibility

United Nations, New York, Feb 25, IRNA - Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaee has urged the UN Security Council to avoid inflicting more damage to the credibility and authority of the IAEA as well as that of its own.

In a letter to President of the Security Council Ricardo Alberto Arias and members of the Security Council as well as the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, the Iranian envoy said that the UN specialized agency has verified non-diversion of Iranian nuclear program and there is no reason to keep Iranian file at the Security Council.

"The Security Council should avoid inflicting more damage to the credibility and authority of the IAEA as well as its own credibility by persisting on further illegal and illogical engagement and actions pursued by few countries. The present great achievement that is the conclusion of the Work Plan, which is the fruitful result of an excellent joint intensive cooperation between the IAEA and the Islamic Republic of Iran, has to be safeguarded by all UN member states, and the international community at large."

The IAEA report indicates that the agency has been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran, it said adding, "Iran has provided the agency with access to declared nuclear material and has provided the required nuclear material accountancy reports in connection with declared nuclear material and activities."

Iran has also responded to questions and provided clarifications and amplifications on the issues raised in the context of the Work Plan, and has provided access to individuals in response to the agency's requests, the Iranian ambassador reiterated.

"The IAEA report also shows that the Iranian nation is committed to its international obligations and at the same time persistent on pursuing and exercising its legal and inalienable rights." Khazaee called for the letter to be circulated as an official document of the Security Council.
 

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