Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have inspected Iran's second cascade of centrifuges used for uranium enrichment, the official IRNA news agency reported yesterday.

 

Two IAEA inspectors "visited nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz and inspected the operation of second cascade of centrifuges for enrichment of uranium," IRNA said, quoting an Iranian nuclear official.

 

The experts arrived in Tehran on Friday and will stay for four days to carry out their inspections in line with Iran's commitment to the safeguards agreement of Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the official said.

 

The inspectors will provide the results of their inspection to IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei, who is expected to deliver a report to a meeting of IAEA Board of Governors scheduled for November 30, according to the IRNA report.

 

Iran announced in late October that it had successfully fed gas into a second cascade of centrifuges at a uranium enrichment facility.

 

The US has been seeking to impose sanctions on Iran through the UN Security Council on the grounds that Tehran is developing a nuclear-weapons program under the guise of a civilian-use nuclear development.

 

However, Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and whilst it has voiced hope for talks with Europe, Russia, China and the US, the Islamic Republic has rejected the imposition of the prerequisite that nuclear work be suspended in exchange for such talks.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2006)