TEHRAN, Iran — U.N. inspectors on Sunday entered a once-secret uranium enrichment facility with bunker-like construction and military protection that raised Western suspicions about the extent and intent of Iran’s nuclear program.
The visit by the four-member International Atomic Energy Agency team, reported by state media, was the first independent look inside the planned nuclear fuel lab that was publicly disclosed last month. The inspectors are expected to study plant blueprints, interview workers and take soil samples.
No results from the inspection are expected until the team leaves the country, but some Iranian officials hailed the visit as an example that their nuclear program was open to international scrutiny.
“IAEA inspectors’ visit to Fordo shows that Iran’s nuclear activities are transparent and peaceful,” lawmaker Hasan Ebrahimi was quoted as saying.
