A nuclear facility in Iran

The U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency on Nov. 14 received an official letter from Iran confirming the suspension, an IAEA spokesman said in Vienna.

Iran has agreed to fully suspend uranium enrichment activities as of Nov. 22, the IAEA said Nov. 15 in a key report that cleared Tehran of diverting nuclear material for weapons.

The report concluded that Tehran had been guilty of "many breaches" of international nuclear safeguard obligations in a policy of concealment that lasted until October 2003.

However, after almost two years of inspections, although the U.N. watchdog has uncovered some activities deemed suspicious, it has not uncovered a "smoking gun" that proves Iran is seeking weapons of mass destruction.

The suspension is part of a deal thrashed out with EU negotiators Britain, France and Germany. It will remain in force while Iran and the European Union negotiate a long-term cooperation accord. These negotiations are slated to start Dec. 15.

The Japan Times Weekly: Nov. 20, 2004
(C) All rights reserved