IAEA must verify Iran's intent, U.K. says

VIENNA, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Though the IAEA helped expose the extent of Iran's nuclear program, its larger challenge is determining Tehran's intent, the British government said.

Iran last week announced that the first unit of its Bushehr nuclear plant became operational. An agreement between Russia and Iran stipulates that Russia will operate and supply fuel for the Bushehr plant for an unspecified period of time. Tehran will eventually take control of the plant.

The International Atomic Energy Agency is tasked with verifying the intent of the Iranian nuclear program, said British Middle East and North African Minister Alistair Burt.

Burt notes that the IAEA, in its latest report, stated concerns about the "possible" military aspect of the Iranian nuclear program.

"Iran must urgently and truthfully address this fundamental question before confidence in the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program can be restored," Burt said in a statement.

Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

World leaders are attending an annual IAEA conference in Vienna. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu told delegates that Washington has a reserve stockpile of low-enriched uranium for countries looking to develop a peaceful civilian nuclear program.

"Promoting civil nuclear energy must go hand in hand with strengthening the nuclear nonproliferation regime by making international safeguards more efficient and more effective," he said.