Iranian Delegation Returns Home from IAEA Nuclear Talks

AFP, EUbusiness:

Experts from Iran, in Vienna to discuss Tehran's plans to resume atomic fuel research with the UN nuclear watchdog, returned home on Thursday without explanation, an official from the IAEA said. "A delegation came from Tehran and went back, we do not know what's going on," the official said.

An IAEA official said earlier talks requested by the IAEA had begun, but IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said the meeting "never took place" on Thursday and "none is scheduled."

Tehran announced Tuesday in a letter that it would on January 9 resume research for its "programme for peaceful nuclear energy," which was suspended two years ago, prompting the IAEA to seek "clarifications." READ MORE

The European Union and the United States fear Iran's civil nuclear programme is a cover for developing a nuclear bomb. Tehran denies the accusation, insisting the programme is designed solely to meet its electricity needs.

IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei called earlier this week for "clarifications" on the letter, saying it was essential that Iran refrain from "all activities linked to uranium enrichment."

The planned talks were meant to focus on clarifying the letter and in particular what the resumption of (research and development) means.

The IAEA wants to know whether Tehran is seeking to remove seals the UN atomic watchdog has placed on Iranian nuclear facilities, said an official.

In August 2005 the IAEA supervised the removal by Iran of the UN seal from its Isfahan plant, thus enabling it to resume conversion of uranium into gas.
This is a first step in the process of making enriched uranium, which can be used as fuel in civilian reactors as well as the explosive core in nuclear bombs.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad repeated Thursday that his country would not retreat from it nuclear programme, echoing a statement by Ali Larijani, Iran's top official for nuclear issues, on Wednesday that resumption of nuclear research was "not negotiable."

This sparked alarmed reactions from France and Germany, which are trying with Britain to wean Iran off its nuclear ambitions by offering economic and security incentives.

Both Berlin and Paris warned that Iran's latest announcement could delay future talks on the issue, due to begin again in Austria on January 18.

The resumption of enrichment would be regarded by the West as a point of no return, triggering the implementation of a resolution referring Iran to the UN Security Council for violating the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The Europeans and the United States are backing a compromise offer from Moscow to enrich Iranian uranium on Russian soil, thus giving Iran access to the nuclear fuel cycle while ensuring its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.

Iranian officials have criticised the proposal but not ruled it out entirely, and are scheduled to discuss it with Russian officials on Saturday.