IAEA Sees No Progress on Iran Impasse

The IAEA Director Yukiya Amano said today that the UN nuclear agency has made no progress in a yearlong push to find out if Iran worked on developing a nuclear weapon at the suspected Parchin site. Amano urged Iran to allow UN inspectors to resume their inquiry after several meetings between Iran and the agency since January failed to achieve a breakthrough. The two sides are scheduled to meet again in mid-December.

“Now is the time for all of us to work with a sense of urgency and seize the opportunity for a diplomatic solution,” Amano told its 35-nation governing board. “I am unable to report any progress on clarifying the issues relating to possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program,” he added. (Reuters, 29 November)

Amano expressed concern that suspected cleanup work at at Parchin would seriously undermine the agency's investigation, if and when it was allowed to visit the sprawling facility.

“Satellite imagery shows that extensive activities, including the removal and replacement of considerable quantities of earth, have taken place at this location,” Amano said.