Tehran/Vienna/Brussels - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr
Mottaki on Monday confirmed earlier reports that 38 International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors have been prohibited from
visiting Iran.
'In line with rules and regulations of the IAEA, the host country
has the right to oppose the entry of certain inspectors into the
country,' Mottaki said in a press conference in Tehran.
Mottaki declined to give details of the nationality of the barred
inspectors.
Iran generally has security concerns as far as visits of US
nationals are concerned. Israelis are generally not allowed to come
to Iran except in very rare cases.
A spokeswoman for the IAEA said in Vienna Monday that the matter
was still under discussion with Tehran, stressing that this did not
impede the UN nuclear watchdog's work.
'Details of inspector designation is a confidential matter between
the IAEA and the country concerned,' spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said
in a statement.
'In this case, we are discussing with Iran its request for
withdrawing the designation of certain safeguards inspectors,' the
statement continued.
Similar to an earlier case when Iran withdrew inspector
designations, there is concern among analysts and some IAEA member
states that Iran was effectively blocking the UN nuclear watchdog's
work.
Sources within the IAEA said that while the ban was not a normal
daily occurrence, there were still 150 designated inspectors for
Iran, and that other countries had also, on occasion, withdrawn
designations.
'It should be noted however, that there are a sufficient number of
inspectors designated for Iran and the IAEA is able to perform its
inspection activities in accordance with Iran's Comprehensive
Safeguards Agreement,' the IAEA said in its statement, reaffirming
its abilities to conduct inspections.
After the approval of United Nations Security Council Resolution
1737 which foresees sanctions against Iran if the Islamic state does
not suspend uranium enrichment by the end of February, the Iranian
parliament approved a bill obliging the government to revise
cooperation with the IAEA.
Both the foreign ministry and the National Security Council which
is directly in charge of the nuclear issue have stressed that
cooperation with the IAEA and commitment to the Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT) would continue.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has already ordered the government
to implement the bill. On Sunday, he termed Resolution 1737 as 'dead
at birth' and reiterated that 'even 10 more resolutions' would not
stop Iran from pursuing its nuclear programmes.
The Iranian foreign minister said that Tehran had dispatched a
letter to the 14 members of the UN Security Council, not only
reiterating Iran's stance in the nuclear dispute but also protesting
against Resolution 1737 and the sanction threats.
Referring meanwhile to ongoing military manoeuvres in south-east
Iran, Mottaki said the manoeuvres were only a routine measure for
maintaining readiness of the armed forces.
European Union foreign ministers meeting on Monday vowed strong
and effective implementation of UN sanctions on Irann
A statement released by the 27-nation bloc said EU governments
would prevent trade in sensitive nuclear technology with Iran.
In addition, the EU promised to implement a ban on transactions
with and freeze the assets of individuals and entities linked to the
nuclear programme.
EU travel by Iranian nationals involved in the nuclear sector will
be restricted. Measures will also involve a ban on Iranians studying
'proliferation-sensitive subjects' in the EU.
The statement said the measures against Iran would be taken
'without delay.'
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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