Environmental samples have been taken at a sensitive military site in
Iran, the head of the U.N. nuclear agency said on Monday, citing
"significant progress" in its investigation of Tehran's past activities.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is investigating whether
Iran's past nuclear activities were linked to developing atomic weapons,
and is due to provide an assessment on the issue by the end of the
year.
The report is crucial to the implementation of a landmark agreement
between Iran and world powers in July under which restrictions will be
placed on Tehran's nuclear energy programme in exchange for a lifting of
sanctions.
IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano said he and the head of the agency's
Department of Safeguards, which carries out inspections, visited a
building at the Parchin site that the agency had previously only
observed in satellite imagery.
Environmental samples were taken before his visit on Sunday, and he said
"the Iranian side played a part in the sample-taking process by swiping
samples".
The Vienna-based U.N. watchdog has come under criticism over a
confidential agreement with Iran that critics say restricts its ability
to investigate at the sprawling Parchin complex.
Under that arrangement, the samples would be taken by Iranian
technicians while IAEA experts present at Parchin would observe and
oversee the process, Western diplomats told Reuters.
"The agency can confirm the integrity of the sampling process and the
authenticity of the samples, which were taken at places of interest to
the agency at the particular location in Parchin," Mr. Amano said in a
statement to reporters.
"Authentication by the agency of the samples was achieved through use of
an established verification process. The process was carried out under
our responsibility and monitoring."
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