Islam Times - ‘IAEA report proves peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program’

Islam Times - The International Atomic Energy Agency’s team has returned from Iran and filed a report in which it claims Iranian officials refused to provide the Agency with access to a key military installation. But Iranian Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh says there is much more to the story.

The Parchin site was cleared in 2005 according to Ambassador Soltanieh by the IAEA. Still he says Iran will continue to live up to its International Obligations and access to the site will be granted once Iranian Officials and the IAEA can agree on conditions. But Veteran Journalist, Conrad Kramer, of Austria’s Kurier Newspaper, says the IAEA’s team was too hasty, and believes the team did not exercise the patience that is needed for delicate matters.

Mr. Kramer believes that the issue has been pushed almost hysterically by Israel, and has caused knee-jerk reactions from the European Union that will not serve anyone. Ambassador Soltanieh has said he remains optimistic that relations between the two, will continue to be diplomatic as Iran continues its programme.

In its November report the IAEA claimed that there was new evidence that Iran’s nuclear programme appears to have possible military dimensions. Several media pundits and independent journalists questioned the accuracy of the report’s information, even asking ‘where is the new evidence’ the report claimed to have.

Ahead of the IAEA’s March Board of Governors meeting, Ambassador Soltanieh continues to stress that Iran’s Nuclear Programme will continue to be for peaceful purposes as it always has been, but also Tehran will continue talks with the IAEA since Diplomacy is the only way forward.