Iranian atomic energy chief says nuclear inspections to be conducted soon

CA Online and wire services
For Al-Shorfa.com
2009-10-02

Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, at a news conference in Tehran on Sept. 29. (Reuters/Morteza Nikoubazl)

TEHRAN — Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, told the English-language service of state-owned

The facility is still 18 months from completion, according to Iran, and will only process uranium for energy purposes. Revelations that Iran possessed a previously unknown site for enriching uranium sparked alarm in the West, which was intensified by recent Iranian missile tests. Senior Revolutionary Guard Commander Abdollah Araqi said the tests demonstrated that, "Iranian missiles are able to target any place that threatens Iran."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hasan Qashqavi maintained that the missile tests had nothing to do with tensions over the nuclear site and were part of routine, long planned military exercises. This explanation was rejected by the U.S. and its European allies, who called the tests "provocative in nature."

The head of the IAEA said Iran violated an IAEA provision on the disclosure of the construction of an uranium enrichment facility.

In an interview with

ElBaradei's comments came a day before officials from Iran and six governments representing the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany (P5+1) were to gather in Geneva for critical talks on Iran's nuclear programme.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said he considers the talks a positive "opportunity" for participating nations. Salehi also said Iran will not discuss anything related to its right to enrich uranium. Western representatives vow to raise the issue, however.

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