Page 9 - ATODAY
P. 9
WORLD NEWS 9
Wednesday 9 March 2016
Russia, West differ on UN report on Iran’s nuclear program
GEORGE JAHN Voronkov said ahead of a Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Yukiya Amano of Japan
Associated Press discussion of the latest IAEA addresses the media during a news conference after a meeting of the IAEA board of governors
VIENNA (AP) — Russia and report on Iran by the agen- at the International Center in Vienna, Austria.
the West overcame differ- cy’s 35-nation board re-
ences to strike a landmark scheduled to Wednesday (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
nuclear deal with Iran but from Tuesday. “But some of
are now divided on how our colleagues would like Iran is no longer in violation maries of Iran’s atomic ac- Voronkov didn’t specify
well the U.N. atomic agen- to have more details.” of U.N. and agency de- tivities. It was restricted es- which Western countries he
cy is reporting on whether The United States, Britain, mands to curb its nuclear sentially to ticking off the meant, but another diplo-
Tehran is meeting its com- France and Germany ne- program and opposes major obligations that Iran mat from one of the six na-
mitments. Western nations gotiated the deal with pressure from member agreed to when the deal tions that negotiated the
want more details while Iran along with Russia and countries. took hold Jan. 16 and stat- nuclear deal said the U.S.
Moscow opposes their China, and all six countries Amano’s February report ing that most were met or was among those prefer-
push. will continue to have much was much less detailed minor deviations quickly ring more details than the
Because the U.S. and its deeper insight into whether than pre-nuclear deal sum- remedied. report contained
five negotiating partners Iran is upholding its side of
want to avoid conflicts that the agreement than what
could complicate Iranian the IAEA reports to other
compliance of a deal that nations on its board.
was years in the making, But Voronkov told The As-
their differences are most- sociated Press that diplo-
ly playing out behind the mats from some of those
scenes. Western countries believe
Vladimir Voronkov, Mos- the Feb. 26 IAEA report was
cow’s chief delegate to too superficial to provide
the U.N.’s International the broader view they feel
Atomic Energy Agency, is needed to show Iran that
which is monitoring the the world was watching.
deal, acknowledges there China shares the Russian
is a dispute that could af- view. Iran complains that
fect the amount of infor- the report is too detailed,
mation made public about leaving IAEA chief Yukiya
Iran’s nuclear program in Amano caught in the mid-
the future. dle.
“In our view it’s an absolute- He feels he has struck the
ly balanced document,” right balance, considering
Iran launches ballistic missiles during military exercise
NASSER KARIMI rity Council has imposed in launches, said the U.N. ercises included the mid- age of the operation, show-
was looking into the reports range Shahab-1 and -2, ing missiles in underground
Associated Press connection to resolutions and it was up to the Secu- and the multiple warhead silos and flashes of light
rity Council to determine Qiam, with a range of 800 from nighttime launches.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s banning Iran from develop- whether there were any vi- kilometers, and the liquid- “Israel is afraid of the missile
olation. “It’s important that fueled Qadr F, which re- launch since it is in range of
Revolutionary Guard ing missiles capable of car- Iran live up to its obligations portedly has a range of most of our missiles. Natu-
under the (nuclear) deal,” nearly 2,000 kilometers. It rally, whoever has hostil-
launched several medium- rying nuclear warheads. he said. The U.N. experts did not give the rockets’ ity towards Iran is in fear,”
panel said last year that a payload capacity. said the Guard chief, Gen.
range and short-range Iran says none of its missiles missile with a range of at The missiles have been in Mohammad Ali Jafari, ac-
least 300 kilometers (186 service in the Guard over cording to the Guard’s
ballistic missiles in recent are designed to carry nu- miles) and a payload of at the past years. website. “Our enemies
least 500 kilograms (1,102 IRNA said the missiles, have learned that increas-
days as part of a military clear weapons. pounds) is considered by launched from silos in sev- ing sanctions and security
expert guidelines to be ca- eral locations across the pressures have no (nega-
exercise, the Guard an- Obama administration pable of delivering weap- country, demonstrated tive) impact on boosting of
ons of mass destruction Iran’s “deterrence power” our capabilities.”
nounced Tuesday. spokesmen said it was The Revolutionary Guard and its readiness to con- State media said the exer-
website said the missiles front threats. State TV ran cise was in its final phase on
The missiles had ranges of aware of reports of the launched during the ex- what it said was video foot- Tuesday.
between 300 and 2,000 ki- launch but could not con-
lometers (185-1,250 miles), firm. They said that if the
Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, launches did occur, they
head of the Guard’s aero- would seek redress at the
space division, said, ac- U.N. national security coun-
cording to the state news cil.
agency IRNA. U.N. spokesman Stephane
The longer ends of that Dujarric, asked whether
range appear to exceed the secretary-general con-
limits that the U.N. Secu- demned the latest missile
