Iran needs to heed IAEA demands- Russia foreign min

PARIS, Sept 7 | Tue Sep 7, 2010 7:57am EDT

PARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Iran needs to answer the demands of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over its nuclear programme.

"The IAEA must continue its work ... Iran must answer the demands of the IAEA," Lavrov told a news conference in Paris, where he met French counterpart Bernard Kouchner.

Western powers suspect Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, a fear heightened by its move in February to start enriching uranium to a level of 20 percent from about 3.5 percent previously, taking it closer to weapons-grade thresholds. Tehran says its programme is peaceful. (Reporting by John Irish; editing by David Stamp)

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Comments (7)
Jiggidy wrote:
What a joke! Its like selling someone an AK-47 and then calling them a week later and saying, “Hey buddy, you weren’t planning on killing a bunch of people with that gun I sold you , are ya?”

Sep 07, 2010 9:36am EDT  --  Report as abuse
Logical123 wrote:
The IAEA since Amano took over its leadership has become almost ridiculous. Its reports are becoming totally irrelevant. While indicating that no diversion to weapons-related has occurred in Iran, it repeats the same tired old complaints.

One complaint of the IAEA is that Iran has refused to allow two specific inspectors who filed false reports. Such a refusal is Iran’s right. Another complaint is that Iran is continuing enrichment. There is no surprise there since Iran considers the UNSC resolution on this subject illegal. The third complaint is that Iran is not answering questions raised in certain old and unsubstantiated documents. The fourth complaint is that the IAEA demands to know the sites of its future enrichments facilities. Iran counters that it needs to report these sites only 180 days before fissile material is introduced into them. The final complaint is that Iran refuses to allow inspection of its heavy water plant at Arak which is not subject to inspection by IAEA rules. The solution is for the IAEA to read its own rules and stop going beyond its bylaws. Lavrov seems also to be losing his ability to think objectively and impartially.

Sep 07, 2010 10:25am EDT  --  Report as abuse
wrote:
Logical123 spelled out PERFECTLY the reality of the situation. Kudos, wonderful comment.

It’s a complex situation. The new administration of the IAEA is being completely illogical and have been called out making false reports on Iran’s nuclear program.

Jiggidy must be confused. Russia never sold weapons to Iran. They are providing 20% enriched uranium, which is only effective as research material, medical equipment, and for energy purposes.

To make uranium into a nuclear weapon, it must be refined to 95%. Not 20%. It gets exponentially harder, so the assertion that Iran is getting closer to building a bomb is just asinine. Do some research, please.

Sep 07, 2010 11:10am EDT  --  Report as abuse
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