Five inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived in Tehran on Saturday to visit the countryÂ’s uranium enrichment and reprocessing facilities, TehranÂ’s state-run television reported. IranÂ’s deputy nuclear chief, Mohammad Saeedi, confirmed that the inspectors would immediately visit the Natanz uranium enrichment plant and the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facility, both in central Iran.
 The inspectors, who landed in Iran on Friday, were scheduled to remain in the country for five days. Saeedi described the inspectorsÂ’ visit as a prescheduled trip within the framework of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. IAEA chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, who is due to visit Iran next week to try and wrest concessions from Tehran on its atomic programme, could arrive in the country as early as Sunday or Monday, IranÂ’s official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. While ElBaradeiÂ’s trip is meant to defuse tensions caused by fears Iran could be seeking nuclear weapons, a partial success could actually exacerbate differences among the five permanent members of the Security Council. If Iran commits to some Security Council requests, but does not meet demands to freeze uranium enrichment, that might placate Russia and China, which oppose tough measures against Iran. It would, however, fall short of the full compliance sought by the United States, France and Britain on enrichment and other issues. |