UNITED NATIONS, June 19 (UPI) -- The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency Thursday sought Iranian compliance to requests for more intrusive inspections, including environmental sampling.
The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors call came in response to the report filed earlier this month by Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei for increased scrutiny of Tehran's nuclear development.
The board "shared the concern ... at the number of Iran's past failures to report material, facilities and activities as required by its safeguards obligations."
After the board's report, ElBaradei expressed optimism Iran would allow the agency to do the work it needs to do to provide the necessary assurances.
"The Board was very clear that safeguards have to be implemented in a very comprehensive, very conspicuous manner, very rigid manner, if you like," he said, adding that "to build confidence you need to be completely transparent."
The board could have passed a resolution, having the weight of international law but instead opted for a summation of its concerns.
