An Iranian flag fluttering at an undisclosed location in the Islamic Republic next to a surface-to-surface Qiam-1 (Rising) missile which was test fired a day before Iran was due to launch its Russian-built first nuclear power plant. (Credit: Vahid Reza Alalei/AFP/Getty Images)
VIENNA — Iran has agreed to a visit from the UN nuclear agency this month to provide answers on the origin of uranium particles found at three sites, according to a Thursday report from the agency.
The UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its 35-nation board have long called for such a visit.
Iran has yet to provide new material, however, and its offer comes ahead of next week's quarterly meeting of the IAEA's Board of Governors. At the meeting, diplomats say they expect Western powers to push for a resolution calling on Iran to cooperate, a move that Tehran usually bristles at.
"The Agency has reiterated to Iran that, at this meeting, it expects to start receiving from Iran technically credible explanations on these issues, including access to locations and material, as well as the taking of samples as appropriate," said one of two confidential IAEA reports sent to member states on Thursday, ahead of the board meeting.
Reporting contributed by Francois Murphy.