UN inspectors in Iran nuclear move
A team of UN inspectors have prepared for their first look inside a formerly secret uranium enrichment facility that has raised Western suspicions about the extent of Iran's nuclear programme.
The inspection tour will provide the world's first independent details of the heavily protected site, carved into a mountainside near the holy city of Qom south of Tehran.
It also coincides with the countdown to Iran's expected decision on whether to accept a UN-brokered plan to process its nuclear fuel abroad.
Iran promised to respond later this week on the proposal, which seeks to ease international worries that Iranian labs could push the uranium enrichment to higher levels for weapons-grade material. Iran claims it only seeks peaceful reactors for research and energy.
Although Iran has not given its official answer on the proposed nuclear deal -- discussed last week after talks in Vienna with the United States, France and Russia -- there are increasing doubts that Iran's leadership will come on board.
Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani claimed the West was trying to "cheat" Iran under the deal that would ship most of Iran's uranium to Russia for reactor-ready enrichment.
Mr Larijani, the country's former nuclear negotiator, said Iran prefers to buy the nuclear fuel it needs for a reactor under construction that makes medical isotopes.
He did not specifically address the fuel needs for Iran's planned Russian-built full-scale reactor, but Russia is required to provide fuel as part of agreement to build it for Iran in the southern city of Bushehr. The reactor is nearly operational.
Rejection of the UN deal would force the United States and its allies to either return to talks or step up demands for greater economic sanctions.
