Arrival of International Atomic Energy Agency Inspectors in Tehran - 2003-06-07

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), affiliated with the United Nations, are expected to have arrived in Tehran today to determine whether the Islamic Republic is implementing the necessary regulations to ensure that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. The IAEA inspection team is conducting this visit ahead of a meeting scheduled to take place in nine days at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria. During that meeting, a report will be presented, many details of which were leaked to the media yesterday. Apparently, the report indicates that the Iranian government failed to report the importation of certain nuclear materials and their subsequent storage and processing, thus neglecting this obligation. However, the IAEA states that the Iranian government has begun to take action to address the issue. Yesterday, the United States described the IAEA report as a source of deep concern. Iran has repeatedly stated that it adheres to the international treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, of which it is a signatory, and has agreed to cooperate with the IAEA. A spokesperson for the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization stated today that Iran's nuclear programs are transparent, and the Iranian government will announce its official position at the IAEA meeting on June 16.