IAEA's Iran n-programme report is 'balanced': Tehran

Tehran, Nov 20: The Iranian government has described the UN

watchdog -- International Atomic Energy Agency (

)'s report about the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme as "balanced".

"This report of the agency is balanced as it is based on the new deal between Iran and the IAEA and on the new cooperation approach," reported Xinhua, citing Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham as saying during a press briefing.

The report released by the IAEA last Wednesday indicated that Iran had significantly slowed down its efforts to reach nuclear capabilities.

It said that the rate of uranium enrichment at the nuclear facility in Natenz city had dropped significantly in the past three months, under the new Iranian president Hassan Rouhani.

It specifically stated that the stockpile of high-level enriched uranium had risen by five percent since last August, currently standing at 196 kg, whereas 250 kg are required to build a nuclear bomb.

On November 11, Iran and the IAEA signed a cooperation deal to enable the UN nuclear watchdog to have access to more Iranian nuclear facilities for inspection.

According to the agreement signed by Ali-Akbar Salehi, the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and Yukiya Amano, the chief of the IAEA, Iran will allow the UN nuclear watchdog's inspectors to visit Arak heavy water plant and Gachin yellow cake mine.

IANS