Iran confirms ban on IAEA inspectors (2nd Roundup)

Jan 22, 2007, 19:30 GMT

Tehran/Vienna/Brussels - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Monday confirmed earlier reports that 38 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors have been prohibited from visiting Iran.

'In line with rules and regulations of the IAEA, the host country has the right to oppose the entry of certain inspectors into the country,' Mottaki said in a press conference in Tehran.

Mottaki declined to give details of the nationality of the barred inspectors.

Iran generally has security concerns as far as visits of US nationals are concerned. Israelis are generally not allowed to come to Iran except in very rare cases.

A spokeswoman for the IAEA said in Vienna Monday that the matter was still under discussion with Tehran, stressing that this did not impede the UN nuclear watchdog's work.

'Details of inspector designation is a confidential matter between the IAEA and the country concerned,' spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said in a statement.

'In this case, we are discussing with Iran its request for withdrawing the designation of certain safeguards inspectors,' the statement continued.

Similar to an earlier case when Iran withdrew inspector designations, there is concern among analysts and some IAEA member states that Iran was effectively blocking the UN nuclear watchdog's work.

Sources within the IAEA said that while the ban was not a normal daily occurrence, there were still 150 designated inspectors for Iran, and that other countries had also, on occasion, withdrawn designations.

'It should be noted however, that there are a sufficient number of inspectors designated for Iran and the IAEA is able to perform its inspection activities in accordance with Iran's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement,' the IAEA said in its statement, reaffirming its abilities to conduct inspections.

After the approval of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737 which foresees sanctions against Iran if the Islamic state does not suspend uranium enrichment by the end of February, the Iranian parliament approved a bill obliging the government to revise cooperation with the IAEA.

Both the foreign ministry and the National Security Council which is directly in charge of the nuclear issue have stressed that cooperation with the IAEA and commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) would continue.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has already ordered the government to implement the bill. On Sunday, he termed Resolution 1737 as 'dead at birth' and reiterated that 'even 10 more resolutions' would not stop Iran from pursuing its nuclear programmes.

The Iranian foreign minister said that Tehran had dispatched a letter to the 14 members of the UN Security Council, not only reiterating Iran's stance in the nuclear dispute but also protesting against Resolution 1737 and the sanction threats.

Referring meanwhile to ongoing military manoeuvres in south-east Iran, Mottaki said the manoeuvres were only a routine measure for maintaining readiness of the armed forces.

European Union foreign ministers meeting on Monday vowed strong and effective implementation of UN sanctions on Irann

A statement released by the 27-nation bloc said EU governments would prevent trade in sensitive nuclear technology with Iran.

In addition, the EU promised to implement a ban on transactions with and freeze the assets of individuals and entities linked to the nuclear programme.

EU travel by Iranian nationals involved in the nuclear sector will be restricted. Measures will also involve a ban on Iranians studying 'proliferation-sensitive subjects' in the EU.

The statement said the measures against Iran would be taken 'without delay.'