4 Oct 2009

UN nuclear chief in Iran

8:59 am on 4 October 2009

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, is in Iran to discuss access for UN inspectors to a recently revealed uranium facility.

Iran disclosed the existence of the enrichment plant, built into a mountain near the city of Qom, on 21 September.

The BBC reports Mr ElBaradei is due to stay in Tehran for two days, but is not expected to visit any nuclear facility.

Before his arrival, officials said Mr ElBaradei would discuss dates and conditions for IAEA access to the site and would meet the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation, Ali Akbar Salehi.

Tehran insists it has the right to develop nuclear energy for domestic usage.

However, the BBC reports the disclosure of the second facility has heightened fears among Western governments that it is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Talks were held in Geneva earlier this week between Iran and the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany. The meeting was the first since July 2008.

Iran agreed to co-operate "fully and immediately" on the second facility.

Further talks are to be held in October.