Iran denied aid for nuclear reactor
The IAEA rejects Iran’s request for technical assistance on its nuclear reactor.
Published On 23 Nov 2006
Request rejected
Officials on the the Vienna-based organisation’s 35-nation board of governors have indefinitely blocked Iran’s request, although the ruling does leave open the possibility of revisiting it in the future.
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“If they help us, we will appreciate it – if not, we will do it by ourselves” Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran’s foreign minister |
Tehran denies claims it is working on a nuclear weapons programme, saying it is only interested in for producing energy and the Arak reactor would be used to create radio-isotopes for medical purposes.
Iranian requests for IAEA technical assistance on seven other nuclear energy projects were approved in a compromise reached ahead of the IAEA board meeting.
The projects were judged not to pose a risk of being diverted towards the manufacture of nuclear arms.
Iran’s heavy water Arak reactor is due for completion in 2009.