West: Iran skirting nuclear obligations

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VIENNA, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- The latest report from the International Atomic Energy provides no assurances that the Iranian nuclear program is peaceful, a British official said.

The IAEA passed a resolution backed by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, plus Germany, that urges Iran to cooperate fully with examinations of its controversial nuclear program.

British Minister for Middle East Alistair Burt welcomed the IAEA's response as a testament of international concerns of Iran's intent. He said the IAEA's report that there may be military dimensions to the program offers little support to Iran's statements of peaceful intent.

"The onus is on Iran to take concrete steps to cooperate fully with the agency and comply with all its international obligations," he said in a statement. "Until it does, the international pressure on Iran will only increase."

Robert Wood, the charge d'affaires for the U.S. mission to the IAEA, said Iran's nuclear enrichment program raises serious questions. If Iran wishes to be treated like a regular member of the watchdog group, he said, it must act responsibly.

Iran's continued behavior, he said in an address to the IAEA board of governors, "is dangerous and unacceptable."