Iran MPs push reduced cooperation with IAEA

Tehran: Lawmakers urged Iran's government on Sunday to prepare a plan on reducing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), after the UN body rebuked Tehran for secretly building a uranium enrichment plant.

Parliament's move highlighted growing tension between the Islamic Republic and major powers seeking a diplomatic solution to a long-running dispute over Iranian nuclear work the West suspects is aimed at making bombs.

It is also likely to cast further doubt on any prospect of Iran accepting a UN-drafted nuclear fuel deal meant to allay international concern about its atomic activities, which Tehran says are aimed at generating electricity.

"Because of world powers' hasty behaviour, the government should submit its plan over reducing Iran's cooperation level with the agency," MPs said in a statement read out in parliament, state radio reported.

Resolution

Parliament can oblige the government to change the level of cooperation with the IAEA, as it did in 2006 after the Vienna-based agency voted to report Iran to the UN Security Council.

Friday's resolution by the 35-nation IAEA board — which won rare backing from China and Russia — was a sign of spreading alarm over Tehran's failure to dispel suspicions it has covert plans to build nuclear bombs, a charge Iran denies.

It urged Iran to clarify the original purpose of the recently disclosed Fordow enrichment site, hidden inside a mountain bunker, stop construction and confirm there are no more hidden sites.

The vote reflected exasperation with Iran's retreat from an IAEA-brokered draft deal to provide it with fuel for a medical nuclear reactor if it agreed to part with its enriched uranium, which could be turned into bomb material if further refined.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said major powers would pursue harsher sanctions against Iran if it ignored the vote.

But it was unclear whether the West could now coax Moscow and Beijing to join in tougher sanctions against Iran, something they have long prevented at the UN Security Council, which has imposed three rounds of punitive measures since 2006.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council "should review the issue and make a clear stance regarding Russia and China's position," Kavakebian said.

What do you think of the MPs stand? Would such a stand by the Iranian government create more problems between Iran and the international community?