WarSclerotic

The IAEA also voiced concern about what it called Iran’s “repeated objection” to the agency’s choice of inspectors working in the country, after Tehran barred two U.N. nuclear inspectors from entering in June.

“The agency rejects the basis upon which Iran has sought to justify its objection,” the report said, also referring to earlier cases where Iran raised such objections.

“It is also concerned that the repeated objection to the designation of experienced inspectors hampers the inspection process and detracts from the agency’s ability to implement safeguards in Iran,” it added.

Western powers are likely to see the report’s findings as backing up their suspicions that Tehran is seeking to build nuclear bombs and underlining the need for the country to enter serious negotiations to curb its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, the report indicates that Syria’s lack of cooperation with United Nations nuclear inspectors is hampering the IAEA’s ability to determine whether the Middle Eastern country was building a nuclear reactor.

With the passage of time some of the necessary information concerning the Dair Alzour site is further deteriorating or has been lost entirely, the IAEA added.

After two years of the investigations constrained by Syrias lack of cooperation, it is critical that Syria positively engage with the agency on these issues without further delay.

Iran’s response

In response, Iran said that the latest report by the UN atomic watchdog over its nuclear programme tarnishes the agency’s reputation but reiterates the non-military nature of Tehran’s atomic drive.

“After seven years of continuous inspections, this report stresses that Iran is not diverting nuclear material toward military and prohibited objectives,” Tehran’s envoy to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, was quoted as saying by Mehr news agency.

“Although this report has tarnished the agency’s technical reputation… it is clearly evident that all Iran’s nuclear activities, particularly (uranium) enrichment is under the supervision of the agency,” he said.

Soltanieh said the report demonstrates Iran’s achievement and dominance over nuclear technology, while “showing Iran’s commitment to the regulations of the agency’s statutes and safeguards.”