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Access denied to Iran base

February 22, 2012

The UN's nuclear watchdog has expressed disappointment over a lack of progress during two-day talks in Iran over its disputed nuclear program. The IAEA said its request to visit a key facility had not been approved.

https://p.dw.com/p/147KA
Inspectors investigate a nuclear plant in Iran
Image: dapd

The United Nations' nuclear agency said Wednesday that its request to visit a military facility in Iran had not been granted during two days of talks over Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

"During both the first and second round of discussions, the agency team requested access to the military site at Parchin. Iran did not grant permission for this visit to take place," the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement. The IAEA says it has received intelligence information indicating that the implosion of a nuclear warhead had previously been simulated at the complex in question.

The announcement came hours before a senior team of IAEA officials was expected to arrive back in Vienna on a flight from Tehran following a second round of unsuccessful talks with Iranian nuclear officials in the space of a month.

Despite "intensive efforts," IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said, no agreement was reached on how to relaunch a probe into mounting concerns that Iran is seeking to develop atomic arms. The statement said the IAEA was still seeking "clarification of unresolved issues" in connection with the country's nuclear ambitions.

Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

ccp/pfd (AP, Reuters, dpa)