December 19, 2003	Friday	Shawwal 24, 1424

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VIENNA, Dec 18: Iran signed an agreement on Thursday allowing the UN nuclear watchdog to conduct snap inspections across its territory, which Tehran said should prove it was not secretly developing atomic weapons.

The signature to the Additional Protocol to the 1968 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) comes nearly 18 months after an exiled Iranian opposition group sparked an international crisis by saying Tehran was hiding several large nuclear facilities. The allegations proved to be true.

Iran’s outgoing ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Akbar Salehi, signed the document for Tehran, which he said was clear proof his country wanted to open every inch of its nuclear programme to international scrutiny.

He told reporters at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna Iran would “not leave any stone unturned to reveal its full transparency and establish the confidence that is needed”.

In a clear jab at Washington, which accuses Tehran of secretly developing an atom bomb, Mr Salehi added: “I ardently hope the new age is set and my country shall no more be subject to unfair and politically motivated accusations and allegations.”

IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, who signed the document on behalf of the UN agency, said Iran’s signature would help boost confidence that its nuclear ambitions were peaceful. But he urged Tehran to ratify the protocol as soon as possible.

“I was assured that Iran, until the protocol is ratified, will act as if the protocol is in force,” Mr ElBaradei said.

The United States accuses Iran of using its atomic energy programme as a smokescreen to develop nuclear arms. Tehran denies this.

The US ambassador to the IAEA, Kenneth Brill, called the signature a “step in the right direction”, but said it would take years before the world could be sure Iran was being honest.

RUSSIA, EU PRAISE IRAN: Russia, which has annoyed Washington by forging ahead with plans to build Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, also praised Tehran for signing the protocol.

“We welcome this responsible step from the Iranian government, evidence of Tehran’s intention to consistently move along the path of ensuring complete transparency of its nuclear programme,” a Russian foreign ministry official told Interfax.

European Commissioner Chris Patten said in a statement that the Commission also welcomed Iran’s signature. “Rapid ratification and implementation pending the entry into force of the Additional Protocol is now essential,” he said.

The protocol sparked heated debate in Iran earlier this year, with hardliners saying the short-notice inspections it permits were tantamount to letting spies into the country. —Reuters