TEHRAN — Saying Iran appeared to be moving away from confrontation with the West, the head of the United Nations nuclear enforcement agency announced Sunday that Tehran had agreed to a date this month for inspectors to visit what until recently had been a covert underground uranium-enrichment plant.
The decision to open the plant to outside scrutiny Oct. 25 was a concession by Tehran to defuse Western criticism over the intent and scope of Iran’s nuclear program. In a meeting with world powers last week, Iranian negotiators agreed in principle to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency access to the facility, which President Barack Obama has criticized as a “direct challenge” to global nonproliferation.
“I see that we are shifting gears from confrontation into transparency and cooperation,” said Mohamed ElBaradei, the director of the IAEA, who arrived in Tehran on Saturday for talks in what he characterized as a critical moment.
“I hope and trust Iran will be helpful with our inspectors,” he said, “so it is possible for us to be able to assess our verification of the facility as early as possible.”
ElBaradei spoke at a news conference with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
The U.N. says Iran violated international law by not notifying the IAEA when construction started more than three years ago beneath the mountains near Qom.
“It is important for us to send our inspectors to assure ourselves that this facility is for peaceful purposes,” ElBaradei said. “Iran should have informed us the day they . . . decided to construct the facility.”
Iran’s contention was that disclosure of the plant was not required until at least six months before nuclear materials were moved into the facility, which is expected to house 3,000 centrifuges for enriching uranium.
The U.S., France and Britain have alleged that Iran tried to deceive inspectors of its goal to build nuclear weapons. Iran claims its nuclear program is designed to generate energy for civilian purposes.
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WASHINGTON — The White House said Sunday it sees signs of progress in confronting Iran’s nuclear program while members of Congress endorsed authorizing tougher economic penalties against the Tehran government.
International inspectors are to visit Iran’s newly disclosed uranium enrichment site Oct. 25.
“The fact that Iran came to the table and seemingly showed some degree of cooperation, I think, is a good thing,” said James Jones, President Barack Obama’s national security adviser.
“But this is not going to be an open-ended process. We want to be satisfied,” he said.
Current penalties have failed to change Tehran’s course and have been watered down through efforts by Russia and China.
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said the U.S. “cannot allow talking and negotiation to replace strong action if we feel we have to take that step.”
The Associated Press
