UN closes books on decade-long Iran nuke probe
VIENNA: The UN nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation board decided on Tuesday to close its investigation into whether Iran once had a nuclear weapons programme, opting to support Tehran’s deal with major powers rather than dwell on its past activities.
In a symbolic victory for Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors passed a resolution that would end its long-running inquiry but allows inspectors to continue to police the country’s nuclear programme.
“Done,” a diplomat in the closed-door IAEA board meeting said by text message, adding that the decision was reached by consensus, meaning the resolution was unopposed. Other diplomats confirmed the outcome of the session.
The IAEA produced a report this month that strongly suggested Iran had a secret nuclear weapons programme up until 2003, though it found no sign of weapons-related activities beyond 2009.
Despite the finding — the clearest indication yet by the IAEA, after 12 years of investigation, that Iran was trying to develop an atom bomb even though it denies that accusation — the international response to the report has been muted.
The United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and China reached a deal with Tehran in July under which sanctions weighing on Iran’s economy will be lifted in exchange for restrictions on the Islamic Republic’s atomic activities.
Those six powers want to press ahead with implementing the July deal and hoped that the IAEA report, produced under the deal, would draw a line under the long-disputed issue of so-called “possible military dimensions” to Iran’s activities.
IRAN MISSILE LAUNCH VIOLATED UN RESOLUTION: REPORT
Iran violated a UN resolution in October when it test-launched a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, a UN panel of experts has concluded in a report that could lead to sanctions.
Britain, France, Germany and the United States had asked a UN Security Council sanctions committee to investigate the launch of the Emad missile on October 10.