Sunday, Feb 09, 2014
Dubai: Iran agreed on Sunday to take seven further steps within three months under a deal with the UN atomic watchdog meant to help allay international concern about Tehran’s nuclear programme.
A diplomatic source said one of the measures related to a long-stalled investigation by the UN nuclear agency into possible military dimensions to Iran’s atomic activities. That would be a potentially significant step forward as the probe into suspected atomic bomb research has been deadlocked for years because of what the West sees as Iranian stonewalling of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
One of the seven steps include allowing IAEA investigation into alleged nuclear arms projects by providing information about detonators that could be used in such weapons. Tehran also gave explanations about the so-called exploding bridge wire detonators, the IAEA said.
The IAEA has said in a 2011 report that such detonators have little uses other than in warheads and said that “Iran’s development of such detonators and equipment is a matter of concern.”
The IAEA said that steps that Iran had agreed to implement by May 15 also included inspector access to the Saghand uranium mine.
Among other steps that both sides agreed to in Tehran, number seven obliges Iran to “providing information and explanations for the Agency to assess Iran’s stated need or application for the development of Exploding Bridge Wire detonators.”
Senior IAEA envoys had held two days of talks, trying to finally win Iran’s agreement to a probe of alleged nuclear weapons research and development projects.
By Bassma Al Jandaly Community and Crime Correspondent
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