Larisa Alexandrovna-UN nuclear watchdog disputes claim that Iran barred weapons inspectors

[kpete]

UN nuclear watchdog disputes claim that Iran barred weapons inspectors

Larisa Alexandrovna
Published: Monday January 22, 2007

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is disputing claims that Iran has barred 38 nuclear inspectors from visiting the country, RAW STORY can reveal.

A Reuters report earlier today -- followed up by a report from AP -- sent shockwaves through the international community airing allegations that Iran had kicked out inspectors of the U.N. atomic watchdog organization. Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki posited that Iran had barred 38 inspectors with the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

This, however, does not align with comments from the IAEA themselves. Shockingly, no comment from the agency appeared in either Reuters or AP's article.

more at:
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/UN_nuclear_watchdog_clarifies_report_that_0122.html

[mod mom]

1. hmmh...haven't they played that song before? Sounds vaguely familiar.

[Eugene]

2. AFP: IAEA in talks with Iran after inspectors blocked

In short, Iran is showing defiance, but is still cooperating
just enough for the IAEA inspectors to to their jobs.

IAEA in talks with Iran after inspectors blocked

26 minutes ago

VIENNA (AFP) - The International Atomic Energy Agency said it was discussing with Iran
its demand to withdraw some nuclear inspectors but was confident it could continue
monitoring the country's nuclear facilities.

"It should be noted however, that there are a sufficient number of inspectors designated
for Iran and the IAEA is able to perform its inspection activities in accordance with
Iran's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement," IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.

Earlier, the head of the Iranian parliament's national security commission told ISNA news
agency that Iran has decided to block 38 IAEA inspectors in a fresh show of defiance over
its nuclear aims.

-snip-

Alaeddin Borujerdi, head of parliament's national security commission, said on Monday that
the blocking of the inspectors was a "first step in implementing the parliament legislation."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070122/wl_mideast_afp/irannuclearpolitics_070122193033

[Nite Owl]

3. Fortunately sequels don't get the

same high ratings as the original does. And we know how that one turned out!

Please, reassure me that people aren't that stupid to fall for this again??????

[lala_rawraw]

7. sadly this led the MSM news, and even Air America news

all day... and my story did not get much blog attention either... so, people have no way of knowing since there is no noise being made. it is really frightening that the entire left of center blog world would be more interested in Clinton declaring her bid for an election nearly two years from now than in the crisis such as we are entering. at least you guys and my cats appreciate the work:)

[Wizard777]

4. Here we go again!

Bush kept saying Saddam would allow Weapons inspectors into Iraq. Then I would turn on CNN and there is Good ole Hanns Blixx Inside Iraq.

[robertpaulsen]

5. K & R! Thanks Larisa, for not taking the neo-CONS at their word.

:kick:

[kpete]

6. Kick for Larisa

[lala_rawraw]

8. thank you

i have food poisoning :hurts: :hurts:
but had to stop by and say thank you mucho:)

[Jack Rabbit]

9. I hope you feel better soon, Lala.

/s/


My mark placed here with assistance from
the University of Kansas

[AZCat]

10. Hey - nice mark.

I've seen you all over the place! I didn't know that weird bounding thing you do was called "spy-hopping" though.

[lala_rawraw]

15. these people keep making me have to get out of bed

still sick, but after little LIzzie's wapo crap, i had to answer her... so wrote a response. now just laying here, sick and bored. supposed to go to dc for the march, but will likely miss it. very depressing

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Reuters *did* have a comment from the IAEA in their article

Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:23 PM GMT

IAEA officials said they were checking the report.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2007-01-22T132318Z_01_BLA240558_RTRUKOC_0_UK-IRAN-NUCLEAR-INSPECTORS.xml&type=worldNews&WTmodLoc=World-C3-More-5

(also include 'diplomats in Vienna')

Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:43pm ET

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the ban would not handicap its monitoring of a plant where Iran plans soon to expand from experimental into industrial-scale output of nuclear fuel in defiance of a U.N. Security Council resolution.
...
"We are discussing with Iran its request for withdrawing the designation of certain safeguards inspectors," IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said in a statement at its Vienna headquarters.

"It should be noted, however, that there are a sufficient number of inspectors designated for Iran and the IAEA is able to perform its inspection activities in accorance with Iran's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement," she said.
...
IAEA officials declined to give the nationalities of the barred inspectors, citing confidentiality rules. But one official said the IAEA was in touch with Tehran on possible replacements for those on the blacklist.

Rueters Update 5

I don't know what time Raw Story said "Reuters didn't quote the IAEA" (comments start at 1.37pm, presumably ET - after the Reuters Update 5 story with full quote came out), but by the time this appeared on DU, it was definitely out of date.

And for all the squawking here about "we've heard this song before", the original quote, from a named Iranian parliament member, came from an Iranian news agency, not somewhere in the West.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

12. What, no aluminum tubes? No UAV's?

Iran hasn't sent mass quantities of inspectors to Africa?

Does this Karimi fellow have a history of shoddy work? Seems like intentionally poor journalism at it's best/worst.

Get better Larisa :)

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

[magellan]

13. This jibes completely with what Iran is saying today

Elham: Iran will continue cooperation with IAEA - Tehran, Jan 23, IRNA

Iran will continue its cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said on Tuesday.

Addressing reporters at his weekly press conference, Elham said "Iran has no problem with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."

Referring to Tehran's decision Monday barring 38 IAEA inspectors from entering the country, the spokesman said "it is the legitimate right of all governments to screen inspectors (who want to come to the country)."

"This is a routine and legal decision in line with interactions between governments and the IAEA," Elham stressed.

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0701232431113116.htm


But of course the corporate media whores and BushCo will continue to spin this into a "gathering threat" for all it's worth. Any bets Bush** mentions it in his speech tonight, conveniently leaving out how Iran is cooperating with the IAEA?

[mmonk]

14. A recommend.

Too many still fuel disinformation. Thanks to Larisa and others, they won't go unchallenged in dispensing information.