AUSTRIA: IAEA ANNOUNCES THAT TEHRAN IS SEEKING EXEMPTIONS FROM DEAL TO SUSPEND SENSITIVE NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES JUST THREE DAYS AFTER IT CAME INTO FORCE

Record ID: 647514

  • Title: AUSTRIA: IAEA ANNOUNCES THAT TEHRAN IS SEEKING EXEMPTIONS FROM DEAL TO SUSPEND SENSITIVE NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES JUST THREE DAYS AFTER IT CAME INTO FORCE
  • Date: 25th November 2004
  • Summary: (W4) VIENNA, AUSTRIA (NOVEMBER 25, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. JOURNALISTS WAITING OUTSIDE ROOM 0.05 2. (SOUNDBITE)(English) MOHAMED ELBARADEI, HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA), SAYING: "On Iran I am going to report that we have completed our work with regard to the verification of the suspension with regard to one exception and that is a request by Iran to exempt 20 centrifuges for R and D (research and development) without using nuclear materials." 0.23 3. JOURNALISTS LISTENING/CAMERA CREWS FILMING 0.29 4. (SOUNDBITE)(English) ELBARADEI, SAYING: "I hope that the remaining one issue on complete suspension would resolve itself in the next 24 hours." 0.38 5. JOURNALISTS LISTENING/CAMERA CREWS FILMING 0.41 6. (SOUNDBITE)(English) ELBARADEI, SAYING: "So we are on the right track but we still have a lot of work to do. We understand much better Iran's programme now but as I have stated before the jury is still out on our ability to provide assurance that everything in Iran has been declared to us." 1.00 7. WS: DELEGATES SEATED AT IAEA MEETING 1.03 8. CU: ELBARADEI SEATED AND GREETING FEMALE DELEGATE 1.12 9. IRANIAN OFFICIALS AT MEETING 1.21 10. VARIOUS OF MEETING 1.26 11. PIROOZ HOSSEINI (GREY HAIR/BLUE SHIRT), IRAN'S AMBASSADOR TO IAEI AND CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SHAKING HANDS WITH OFFICIALS (2 SHOTS) 1.38 12. WIDE OF MEETING 1.42 13. VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN DEMONSTRATING OUTSIDE IAEA MEETING (4 SHOTS) 2.06 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 10th December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • Country: Austria
  • Reuters ID: LVA7A5NQJ36435K06SI6KB2WE56V
  • Story Text: Iran and EU clash over terms of nuclear freeze.


    Iran is seeking exemptions from a deal to suspend
    sensitive nuclear activities just three days after it came
    into force, the head of the U.N. atomic watchdog said on
    Thursday (November 25).

    Tehran's request threatened to torpedo the hard-won
    agreement with the European Union and further antagonise
    Washington, just as the International Atomic Energy Agency
    (IAEA) began meeting to review Iran's atomic programme.

    IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei said Iran had suspended
    activities related to enriching uranium, except for 20
    centrifuge machines on which it wanted to conduct research
    without using nuclear material.

    Centrifuges spin at supersonic speed to enrich, or
    purify, uranium for use in nuclear reactors. Uranium
    enriched to a very high degree can be used in a nuclear
    weapon.

    Iran says it wants to use nuclear power solely for
    peaceful purposes, and denies U.S. accusations that its
    civilian programme is a cover for building a bomb.

    Anxious to avoid being referred to the U.N. Security
    Council for possible sanctions, Tehran said on Monday it
    had suspended the "whole enrichment process" in line with
    an agreement with Germany, France and Britain.

    "I am going to report that we have completed our work
    with regard to the verification of the suspension with
    regard to one exception and that is a request by Iran to
    exempt 20 centrifuges for research and development without
    using nuclear materials," ElBaradei said.

    He said he hoped to resolve the dispute within 24
    hours.

    Iran first promised the EU it would freeze its enrichment
    programme
    in October 2003 but never entirely
    halted the work.

    Britain, France and Germany have circulated a draft
    resolution at the IAEA that demands Tehran keep frozen all
    nuclear work that could help it develop fuel for atomic
    weapons.

    ElBaradei said that while IAEA inspectors had accounted
    for all Iran's declared nuclear material, "We understand
    much better Iran's programme now but as I have stated
    before the jury is still out on our ability to provide
    assurance that everything in Iran has been declared to us,"
    he said.

    As the IAEA meeting began a small demonstration was
    held outside organised by the Members of the National
    Council of Resistance of Iran to protest at Iran's nuclear
    programme.

    awa/jrc


    awa/


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