IAEA chief ties possible Iran visit to progress on resolving differences on nuclear activities

25 June 2011 | 17:32 Code : 14067 Latest Headlines
 Washingtonpost— The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed being invited to visit Iran. But he says he will go only if there is hope of resolving major differences over the Islamic Republic’s atomic activities.

Yukiya Amano says the prospect of “a constructive, concrete result is needed” for him to take up the invitation issued Tuesday by Iran’s nuclear chief, Fereidoun Abbasi.

Iran has for years stonewalled IAEA efforts to probe suspicions that Iran has worked on components of a nuclear weapons program. It also refuses to freeze uranium enrichment, despite four sets of U.N. Security Council sanctions meant to pressure Tehran to stop the program and other activities that could be used for weapons.

Iran says it does not want nuclear arms and is enriching only to make reactor fuel.