IAEA unclear if Iran's nuclear aims peaceful

Tehran: Unexplainable traces of plutonium in samples of particles of highly enriched uranium have been found at a nuclear waste site in Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Tuesday.

Yesterday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he was prepared to negotiate with the US as long as there was a change in attitude. However, the US insists that the Arab state suspend its nuclear activities before sitting down to talks.

The US also urged Iran to play a more positive role in Iraq and help end violence, as well as give up its nuclear aims in order to secure stability in the Middle East.

The IAEA accused Iran of hampering agency investigations and said UN inspectors had come across unexplainable traces of plutonium in samples of particles of highly enriched uranium at a nuclear waste site, which in larger amounts could be used to detonate atom bombs.

Tehran has largely ignored calls from the UN Security Council demanding it freeze its programmes, claiming they are only seeking to generate low-enriched uranium for nuclear fuel.

The IAEA said it could not confirm Iranian claims that its nuclear activities were exclusively non-military unless Tehran increased its openness.