Region | Iran
US, EU oppose atomic aid for Iran at tense IAEA meet
Western powers urged the U.N. nuclear agency on Monday to deny Iran's request for help with a plant that could yield plutonium for atom bombs, but Washington voiced no objection to seven other projects presented by Tehran.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:00 November 21, 2006
Vienna: Western powers urged the UN nuclear agency on Monday to deny Iran's request for help with a plant that could yield plutonium for atom bombs, but Washington voiced no objection to seven other projects presented by Tehran. "Given past board decisions, continued questions about Iran's nuclear programe and the risk of plutonium being diverted to use in a weapon, the United States joins with others who cannot approve this (Arak) project," Gregory Schulte, U.S. ambassador to the IAEA, told the weeklong board session.
Finnish Ambassador Kirsti Helena Kauppi, speaking on behalf of the EU, said technical expertise should be withheld from
The International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation governing board has repeatedly asked not to pursue the
Although IAEA approval of such requests is usually routine, Western board members said the
Iran denies intent to derive plutonium from
Developing nations locked horns with Western counterparts at the meeting, saying that a rejection of
Diplomats said most board members wanted to avoid a divisive vote that was likely to lose and blame on Western bullying.
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