Iran accused of intimidating nuclear inspector

AP: A United States envoy accused Iran yesterday of intimidating United Nations (UN) nuclear inspectors in an effort to influence their findings - a move he said may lead to "appropriate action" from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Britain, France and Germany also criticised Iran for its decision to ban several inspectors in a toughly worded statement also critical of Tehran for ignoring UN Security Council demands to stop nuclear activities that could be used to make weapons.

"Iran is pursuing ... programmes which have no credible peaceful purposes," said the statement to the IAEA's 35-nation board, delivered by French chief delegate Florence Mangin. "The only conclusion we can draw from this is that Iran remains determined to pursue a nuclear programme which could provide it with military capabilities."

'Appropriate action'

In warning of "appropriate action", Glyn Davies, chief US delegate to the nuclear agency, did not go into details in comments to the board. But he referred to the phrase as part of the authority given the board if the agency's inspectors are hampered in carrying out their duties by the nation under inspection.

If the country is found to have violated commitments on how and what the IAEA is allowed to inspect, the board could then formally report the breach to the UN Security Council in a resolution - a move that would add to international pressure on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear activities.

Iran is under four sets of Security Council sanctions for refusing to stop uranium enrichment and ignoring other demands meant to ease international concern that it seeks to make nuclear weapons.

Uraniium enrichment

Enrichment can make both nuclear fuel and the fissile warhead material. Iran, which kept its enrichment activities under wraps until they were revealed eight years ago, says it is enriching only to fuel a future network of nuclear reactors.

While initially offering partial cooperation with an IAEA probe three years ago of intelligence reports that it had conducted secret experiments meant to help it develop nuclear arms, Iran subsequently fended off questions and inspections, saying all queries had been laid to rest.

In comments inside the closed meeting made available to reporters, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano fended off Iranian accusations that the intelligence was forged.