Pressure grows on Iran to come clean over nuclear plans

LONDON - The United Nations (UN) is reportedly putting pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear programme and allow inspectors to examine its facilities.

The Iranian government insists that its uranium enrichment project is purely to provide electricity for the country, but the UN Security Council is not convinced.

The Security Council had earlier imposed a fourth round of sanctions in June, saying that Iran has refused to suspend uranium enrichment and start negotiations with the five permanent members and Germany.

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a speech to the UN Assembly on Iran, in which he would leave the door open to talks with Tehran, Sky News reports.

This follows comments from Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former President Ayatollah Rafsanjani that were interpreted as a signal that the country was willing to enter into negotiations.

Earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its quarterly report on the status of Iran’s nuclear program had criticized Tehran for limiting the access of the agency’s inspectors.

The report had stated that Iran had failed to answer questions concerning its alleged efforts to develop nuclear warheads and triggering devices.

It also claimed that Iran continues to expand its production of nuclear fuel, though not as quickly as some Western intelligence agencies had projected.(ANI)