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| Iran nuclear crisis: UN experts invited to Arak plant | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iran has invited the UN atomic agency to visit its Arak heavy water plant, agency head Yukiya Amano says. | Iran has invited the UN atomic agency to visit its Arak heavy water plant, agency head Yukiya Amano says. |
| This invitation, the first time in than two years, is within the framework of a recent IAEA agreement with Tehran to clear up aspects of Iran's past and present nuclear work. | This invitation, the first time in than two years, is within the framework of a recent IAEA agreement with Tehran to clear up aspects of Iran's past and present nuclear work. |
| World powers fear the Arak plant could be used as a route to a nuclear bomb. | |
| Iran recently signed a deal with world powers to curb some nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. | Iran recently signed a deal with world powers to curb some nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. |
| Under the deal, which will last six months, Iran will receive some $7bn (£4.3bn) while a permanent agreement is sought. | Under the deal, which will last six months, Iran will receive some $7bn (£4.3bn) while a permanent agreement is sought. |
| The accord, reached in Geneva on Sunday with the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany, has been generally welcomed. | The accord, reached in Geneva on Sunday with the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany, has been generally welcomed. |
| But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called it a "historic mistake" and some US senators say it is too soft. | |
| Mr Amano said the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was looking into ways to implement the agreement. | Mr Amano said the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was looking into ways to implement the agreement. |
| He said he had received a letter from EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton which said that the IAEA would have an important role in verifying the nuclear-related measures agreed in Geneva. | He said he had received a letter from EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton which said that the IAEA would have an important role in verifying the nuclear-related measures agreed in Geneva. |
| It would take some time to work out funding and staffing, he added. | It would take some time to work out funding and staffing, he added. |
| The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says that the six-month interim period stipulated in the deal will not start until technical issues such as these are worked out. | The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says that the six-month interim period stipulated in the deal will not start until technical issues such as these are worked out. |
| Unnamed diplomats told the BBC that the IAEA might not be ready to begin its expanded inspections until January. | Unnamed diplomats told the BBC that the IAEA might not be ready to begin its expanded inspections until January. |
| The West has long suspected that Iran's uranium enrichment programme is geared towards making a weapon, but Tehran insists it only wants nuclear energy. | The West has long suspected that Iran's uranium enrichment programme is geared towards making a weapon, but Tehran insists it only wants nuclear energy. |
| Plutonium fears | Plutonium fears |
| Iran's invitation to Arak is for 8 December. The IAEA regularly visits a nearby research reactor site but has not been at the heavy water plant since August 2011 despite repeated requests. | Iran's invitation to Arak is for 8 December. The IAEA regularly visits a nearby research reactor site but has not been at the heavy water plant since August 2011 despite repeated requests. |
| It is the first concrete step taken under the IAEA plan, a "joint statement on a framework for co-operation" signed with Iran on 11 November. | It is the first concrete step taken under the IAEA plan, a "joint statement on a framework for co-operation" signed with Iran on 11 November. |
| The purpose of the Arak facility is to provide heavy water to help control the nuclear activity of fuel rods in the reactor, which is still under construction. | The purpose of the Arak facility is to provide heavy water to help control the nuclear activity of fuel rods in the reactor, which is still under construction. |
| Western powers fear the reactor could be used to make weapons-grade plutonium, but Iran says it will make medical isotopes. | Western powers fear the reactor could be used to make weapons-grade plutonium, but Iran says it will make medical isotopes. |
| Under Sunday's deal, Iran agreed not to commission the Arak reactor or transfer fuel or heavy water to the site. | Under Sunday's deal, Iran agreed not to commission the Arak reactor or transfer fuel or heavy water to the site. |