The United States said Monday it would "press for rapid cooperation" from Iran on a UN nuclear watchdog accord for answers to questions that raise suspicions Tehran seeks to build the bomb. American ambassador Gregory Schulte backed the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) inspections timetable, but told reporters: "We will press for rapid cooperation rather than continued delay and many countries will be joining us in doing so."
"The United States ... strongly supports the IAEA's running effort to overcome Iran's refusal to cooperate fully and of course we will welcome any progress about resolving troubling questions about Iran's past nuclear activities," Schulte told reporters.
As the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors opened a week-long meeting in Vienna, Schulte voiced American concerns that Tehran is only answering questions about its past nuclear work and not providing "full verification of current activities nor does it address the continuing enrichment activities by Iran in direct contravention of Security Council requirements."
"Cooperation that is partial, conditional and only promised in the future is not enough. Cooperation that gives Iran the wherewithal to build nuclear weapons is not enough," he said, according to AFP.
The US ambassador called on the IAEA board to "send a clear message to Tehran. If Iran's leaders truly want the world's trust, rather than slowwalling the IAEA, they will start to cooperate fully and unconditionally and suspend activities of international concern."
