US sees limits, "manipulation" in Iran/IAEA deal
VIENNA, Aug 22 (Reuters) A nuclear cooperation pact Iran struck with the International Atomic Energy Agency has ''real limitations'' and Tehran should stop trying to manipulate the IAEA to dodge harsher UN sanctions, a senior US envoy said.
Washington was not impressed by Iran's transparency promise -- hailed as a ''milestone'' by the IAEA yesterday -- to allay suspicions it is secretly seeking atomic bombs, and would still pursue talks on more UN sanctions against Tehran, the US envoy to the UN nuclear watchdog, Gregory Schulte, said.
The IAEA declined comment on Schulte's criticism. A diplomat close to the agency said Schulte's remarks ''shows a deliberate campaign to derail this process''.
Schulte said Washington welcomed any progress in resolving troubling questions about Iran's nuclear activities.
''But we understand there are real limitations with the plan, including Iran's continued refusal to implement the IAEA's Additional Protocol,'' he told reporters by conference call.
He was citing a measure allowing inspectors to conduct spot checks at sites not declared to be nuclear but regarded as important to resolving four-year-old IAEA investigations into the scope and nature of Iran's atomic programme.
Yesterday's agreement, which has an undisclosed timetable, is meant to resolve IAEA concerns about intelligence indicating possible illicit military involvement in Iran's declared drive for peaceful nuclear energy and to improve access for UN inspectors to its underground uranium enrichment plant.
Western diplomats believe Iran is making a display of cooperation to split key world powers over the need for stiffer sanctions -- Russia and China are reluctant -- and wants to buy time so it can master enrichment capability.
Schulte said Iran's suggestion it would not implement the transparency plan unless the UN Security Council shelved steps to intensify the mild sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic over its refusal to stop enrichment was unacceptable.
''If Iran's leaders truly want the world's trust, they would stop trying to manipulate the IAEA, start to cooperate fully and unconditionally, and suspend activities of (world) concern.
''I don't think the Security Council will be distracted (by the IAEA-Iranian accord).'' US-IAEA TENSIONS The diplomat close to the IAEA told Reuters that Schulte's comments were ''very unhelpful'' ... Such immediate downplaying of this development is disingenuous''.
''To expect Iran now to comply on the whole package of demands by the Security Council, all at once, when they remain under sanctions, is unrealistic,'' the diplomat said.
Tehran said it was ''serious'' about implementing the plan.
Western powers suspect Iran's declared goal to refine uranium for electricity so it can export more of its oil is really a cover for perfecting the means to make nuclear bombs.
France said Iran could not restore international confidence just by a pledge to open its books to IAEA sleuths.
''Iran must accept a suspension of its sensitive activities, failing which the international community will have no option but to maintain its attitude of firmness, including by passing a third sanctions resolution...,'' French Foreign Ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau said at an on-line news conference.
European diplomats cast doubt on the timing of Iran's move and said only Iranian actions would matter. A similar timetable for transparency, in 2004, came to nothing.
Gary Samore at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York said Iran retained an edge in its standoff with the West.
''The
US
is
bogged
down
in
Iraq,
other
big
powers
are
loath
to
impose
significant
economic
penalties
on
Iran.
But
Iran
will
have
to
do
enough
so
this
process
doesn't
look
like
a
charade,
and
make
it
hard
for
Russia
to
argue
it
should
be
given
time.''
REUTERS
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