IAEA to meet Iran over access to n-site

Moscow, June 4 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Iran have scheduled a meeting for June 8 to get access to the Parchin military site and investigate the suspected nuclear activities there.

According to Radio Free Europe, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano announced the meeting in Vienna at the start of a gathering of the IAEA board, and urged Iran to provide "early access" to Parchin where international experts suspect Iran is carrying out nuclear tests.

Tehran says it needs nuclear research for civilian energy purposes.

The IAEA has cited new satellite images which it says suggest "extensive activities" at Parchin, including the razing of two buildings. Experts said that could be a sign of a clean-up following explosives tests.

The IAEA governing board opened its closed-door meeting Monday where it is expected to focus on the Iranian nuclear programme.

In February, Iran said it had launched an additional 3,000 new centrifuges at its uranium enrichment plant in Natanz, taking the total number to 9,000.

Later that month, an IAEA delegation arrived in Iran for an inspection but failed to look at Parchin.

Iranian authorities said a visit to nuclear facilities was not on the agenda of IAEA experts, and that the international monitors had themselves refused to visit Parchin.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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