IAEA denies Iran hampering inspections of nuclear facility
VIENNA, May 11 (Xinhua) --
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday said Iran has not hampered the IAEA's inspection of Iran's nuclear facility. "The information... is untrue," IAEA spokesman Marc Vidricaire told a press conference when asked about recent reports that last month Tehran refused to give IAEA inspectors access to its Natanz uranium enrichment base.
"We have not been denied access at any time, including in the past few weeks," he said.
"Normally we do not comment on such reports but this time we felt we had to clarify the matter," he said.
Iran's chief delegate to the IAEA Ali Ashgar Soltanieh also denied the report, local media reported.
The untrue report was meant to create a negative atmosphere for the ongoing conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, he said.
Delegates from 130 member states, including China, and non-governmental organizations attended the meeting to present their principles and positions on nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear power.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/12/content_6088741.htm#
