International Atomic Energy Agency: No Special Concessions Should Be Given to Iran

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that no special concessions should be granted to Iran in exchange for agreeing to more stringent inspections of its nuclear program. Agency officials remind that Iran must agree to inspections to gain credibility and to prove that it does not have a nuclear weapons production program. Mark Gwozdecky, the agency's spokesperson in Vienna, said that Iran should be treated like all other nations and added that the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is enforced in 37 countries, and no one has complained about the agency abusing the powers granted by the protocol. It is worth noting that Iran is one of the member states that contributed to the negotiations regarding the Additional Protocol and has often encouraged other countries to sign it. Iran is part of the process that made the approval of the protocol possible. Meanwhile, reports indicate that France and Germany have suggested that if the Islamic Republic agrees to accept inspections and halt its uranium enrichment program, Tehran could share in receiving nuclear technology.