Iran says US trying to derail atomic talks

Tehran, Aug 26: Iran accused the United States today of trying to derail its talks with the UN nuclear watchdog that aim to defuse a row over Tehran's atomic plans, which Washington says are ultimately directed at making bombs.

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held two-days of talks last week about a plan for more transparency. A senior IAEA official described their agreement as a ''milestone'' but Washington said the deal had ''real limitations''.

''There was nothing else to be expected from America other than this (response) ... The trend (of talks) between Iran and the agency was successful, other countries welcomed it as well. Americans are making efforts to harm this trend,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said.

He said Washington's threat to brand Iran's Revolutionary Guards a foreign terrorist group, a move that would allow the United States to target the force's finances, was a political manoeuvre ahead of an IAEA report expected this week.

That report will give details on the plan that aims to clear up suspicions about Iran's nuclear activities, which Tehran insists have only civilian goals.

''America's policies regarding this ... are being intensified as we get closer to September and presentation of the final (IAEA) report,'' Hosseini told a weekly news conference.

World powers have held off moves to impose a third sanctions resolution until September. But Washington has said it will still press for further sanctions until Iran, which says its nuclear programme is only to produce electricity, agrees to halt uranium enrichment in line with UN demands.

REUTERS>