Iran to End Cooperation with IAEA on “Alleged Studies”

Iran will no longer cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its investigation of “alleged studies.” The term is used by IAEA in reference to research allegedly undertaken in Iran to build nuclear weapons. Iran’s VP and head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Qolam Reza Aghazadeh, made the announcement on Thursday in Tehran.

Investigating such allegations "is outside the domain of the agency," Aghazadeh said.

Last May, IAEA raised serious concerns that Iran was withholding information on the issue.

“The alleged studies remain a matter of serious concern. Clarification of these is critical to an assessment of the nature of Iran's past and present nuclear program,” IAEA said in its report released on 27 May 2008. “Substantive explanations are required from Iran to support its statements on the alleged studies and on other information with a possible military dimension.”

Iran had earlier agreed to answer allegations that it studied how to design nuclear bombs. IAEA chief Mohammad ElBaradei had called the agreement a “milestone.”

The decision by Iran to stop its cooperation with IAEA would add to the tensions surrounding the Iranian nuclear program.

IAEA: Iran Withholding Nuclear Information

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) raised serious concerns in its latest report on Monday that Iran is withholding information on the “alleged studies.” The term is used by IAEA in reference to research allegedly undertaken in Iran to build nuclear weapons.

“The alleged studies remain a matter of serious concern. Clarification of these is critical to an assessment of the nature of Iran's past and present nuclear program,” IAEA said in its report. “Substantive explanations are required from Iran to support its statements on the alleged studies and on other information with a possible military dimension.”

IAEA Chief Mohammad ElBaradei announced last month that Iran had agreed to answer allegations that it studied how to design nuclear bombs, calling the agreement a “milestone.”

Iranian officials were criticized by conservatives for the agreement. The influential publisher and editor of Keyhan, Hossein Shariatmadari, had warned Iranian officials against “falling into the trap” set by the US and Israel for them to commit to negotiations over “alleged studies.”

The collapse of Iran-IAEA talks and IAEA’s latest report would add to the tensions surrounding the Iranian nuclear program.

Iran-IAEA Talks Ends With No Results

A high-ranking delegation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) finished their three-day talks in Tehran with the officials of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization without resolving the issue of “alleged studies.”

Iran had agreed with IAEA to answer allegations that it studied how to design nuclear bombs. On 23 April, IAEA Chief Mohammad ElBaradei announced the agreement with Iran and called it a “milestone.” The IAEA delegation was in Tehran to resolve the issue. IAEA officials did not announce readiness for any further negotiations on the issue.

This week Iran offered its own package of proposal to defuse the nuclear standoff. But Western diplomats said Iran’s proposals will not be considered unless Tehran suspends its uranium enrichment activities.

The collapse of the latest round of talk in Tehran would now add to tensions surrounding the program.

Iran-IAEA Agreement on “Alleged Studies”

Iran has agreed to answer allegations that it studied how to design nuclear bombs, IAEA Chief Mohammad ElBaradei announced in Vienna today. IAEA called the agreement a “milestone.”

“An agreement was reached during the meetings in Tehran on a process that aims to clarify the so-called alleged studies during the month of May,” an IAEA spokeswoman said.

The alleged studies include charts on process of converting enriched uranium into uranium metal; a document on casting of uranium metal into the shape of a nuclear warhead; schematics of a Shahab-3 missile re-entry vehicle with apparent capability of carrying a nuclear warhead; and plans on remote explosive testing, another core element in any nuclear weapon program.

Iran had in the past dismissed the alleged studies as “baseless” and the intelligence behind them as “fake.”