Iran uncooperative with U.N. inspectors

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Iran is not cooperating with efforts to assure that its nuclear program is not being developed for military use, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.

In a quarterly report to his Board of Governors, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency "continues to have serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program," the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

"As Iran is not providing the necessary cooperation ... the agency is unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities," Amano wrote in the report.

The report said Iranian officials refused to allow IAEA inspectors to visit the Parchin military base on two recent trips. The Los Angeles Times said a large explosives containment vessel was built at Parchin to conduct hydrodynamic experiments that are "strong indicators of possible weapon development," an IAEA report issued last November said.

Amano's report said Iran continues to carry out uranium enrichment activities.

"The director general urges Iran, as required in the binding resolutions of the Board of Governors and mandatory Security Council resolutions, to take steps towards the full implementation of its Safeguards Agreement and its other obligations, including ... suspension of enrichment-related activities, and suspension of heavy water related activities," the report said.