New IAEA Chief Accuses Iran of Non Cooperation

Yukiya Amano – the new head of the UN nuclear watchdog has said that Iran is not co-operating with the agency’s investigation into the country’s nuclear programme.

Amano further told the 35 nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna that Iran insistence of its nuclear programme being peaceful could not be confirmed.

“The agency continues to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran, but we cannot confirm that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities because Iran has not provided the agency with the necessary co-operation,” Amano was quoted as saying.

Amano’s statement, however, has been rejected by the Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

“We have fully co-operated with the agency. This co-operation will continue,” he told journalists.

Amano took over as the head of the agency in December.

(Based on Media Reports)