December 18, 2003	Thursday	Shawwal 23, 1424

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TEHRAN, Dec 17: Iran will almost certainly sign a binding international protocol that allows intrusive snap inspections of its nuclear facilities on Thursday, ministers said on Wednesday.

Asked when Iran would sign the Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh replied “Iran will most probably sign tomorrow”.

The United States says Iran’s atomic programme is a smokescreen for the development of nuclear arms, but Iran has repeatedly dismissed the allegation.

“We have agreed to sign the protocol to prove our activities are peaceful,” said Mr Aghazadeh, who heads Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.

The question of whether it should sign the protocol sparked heated debate in Iran earlier this year, hardliners saying the short-notice inspections it permits were tantamount to allowing spies into the country.

But, under mounting international pressure, Iran said in October it would sign up for the tougher inspection regime, suspend uranium enrichment and provide full details of nuclear activities dating back to the 1980s.

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accused Tehran last month of an 18-year cover-up of sensitive nuclear research and warned it that any “further breaches” could see Iran’s case taken to the UN Security Council.

Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said his ministry was taking responsibility for putting pen to paper in Vienna, home of the IAEA.

Iran’s former representative to the IAEA, Ali Akbar Salehi recently left his post and a successor has not been announced.

Mr Kharazi and reformist President Mohammad Khatami both reiterated a signature was likely on Thursday.—Reuters