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Iran agrees to reactor inspection UN hails Iran nuclear agreement
(about 3 hours later)
Iran has agreed to let inspectors visit this month a nuclear reactor being built which could produce plutonium, the UN nuclear watchdog has said. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency says it has reached a deal with Iran to allow new inspections and safeguards at key nuclear facilities.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced a delegation would visit the Arak heavy water reactor, following two days of talks in Tehran. Tehran will allow inspectors into Arak heavy water plant and agree safeguards at its Natanz uranium enrichment plant, the UN nuclear watchdog said.
Heavy water reactors produce plutonium, which can be used in nuclear weapons as an alternative to enriched uranium. The agency's deputy director described the deal as a framework for resolving a range of nuclear issues with Iran.
Iran insists that its nuclear programme is for purely civilian purposes. Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes, not bomb-making.
The EU and US, however, accuse the Islamic republic of seeking to build nuclear weapons and have demanded it suspend its uranium enrichment activities.The EU and US, however, accuse the Islamic republic of seeking to build nuclear weapons and have demanded it suspend its uranium enrichment activities.
The UN Security Council has imposed two rounds of sanctions on Iran for not doing so, and is now considering a third round.The UN Security Council has imposed two rounds of sanctions on Iran for not doing so, and is now considering a third round.
DiscussionsDiscussions
After discussions in Tehran, the IAEA said it had agreed a series of measures with Iranian authorities aimed at clearing up key questions about its nuclear programme. Ollie Heinonen, the deputy director of the IAEA, announced the deal after meeting two senior Iranian negotiators in Tehran this week.
Under the terms of the deal a new team of nuclear inspectors will be put together.
Key nuclear sitesKey nuclear sites
According to an IAEA statement, the Iranian government will allow a visit by UN inspectors to the heavy-water research reactor at Arak by the end of July. That team will then quickly granted access to the heavy water reactor plant at Arak before the end of July, Mr Heinonen said.
Heavy water reactors produce plutonium, which can be used in nuclear weapons as an alternative to enriched uranium.
Located some 190km (120 miles) south-west of Tehran, the reactor has long been a bone of contention between Iran and the West.Located some 190km (120 miles) south-west of Tehran, the reactor has long been a bone of contention between Iran and the West.
Arak was one of two Iranian nuclear facilities the existence of which was revealed by an exiled Iranian opposition group in 2002. At that stage Iran had failed to declare its existence to the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. Arak was one of two Iranian nuclear facilities the existence of which was revealed by an exiled Iranian opposition group in 2002. At that stage Iran had failed to declare its existence to the IAEA.
Heavy water is used to moderate the nuclear fission chain reaction either in a certain type of reactor - albeit not the type that Iran is currently building - or produce plutonium for use in a nuclear bomb.Heavy water is used to moderate the nuclear fission chain reaction either in a certain type of reactor - albeit not the type that Iran is currently building - or produce plutonium for use in a nuclear bomb.
The project is scheduled to be completed by 2009.The project is scheduled to be completed by 2009.
The IAEA also said it had agreed with Iran on the designation of new inspectors as well as how to deal with safeguards at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.The IAEA also said it had agreed with Iran on the designation of new inspectors as well as how to deal with safeguards at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.