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Iran nuclear crisis: UN experts invited to Arak plant Iran nuclear crisis: UN warns process will 'take time'
(about 1 hour later)
Iran has invited the UN atomic agency to visit its Arak heavy water plant, agency head Yukiya Amano says. The head of the UN's nuclear agency, Yukiya Amano, has warned it will "take some time" before work can begin on verifying whether Iran is complying with a deal on its nuclear programme.
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. Iran agreed last week to curb some nuclear activities for six months in return for sanctions relief.
World powers fear the Arak plant could be used as a route to a nuclear bomb. The deal requires increased UN inspections of Iran's nuclear sites including the Arak heavy water plant.
Iran recently signed a deal with world powers to curb some nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. But diplomats said the UN might not be able to begin work there until January.
Under the deal, which will last six months, Iran will receive some $7bn (£4.3bn) while a permanent agreement is sought. Under the international deal, 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.But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called it a "historic mistake" and some US senators say it is too soft.
'Funding implications'
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.
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, including significantly expanding its inspections of nuclear sites.
It would take some time to work out funding and staffing, he added. "This will include the implications for funding and staffing," he said.
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. "This analysis will take some time. I will consult the board as soon as possible when it has been completed."
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. However 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.
Plutonium fearsPlutonium 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. Earlier on Thursday, as part of the deal, Iran invited Mr Amano to visit its Arak heavy water plant on 8 December. World powers fear the plant could be used as a route to a nuclear bomb.
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.