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| US expects IAEA board to take 'appropriate action' on Iran
WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (AFP) - The United States said Thursday it expected the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take "appropriate action" on Iran's nuclear program when its governing board meets next week. But the State Department declined to specify what action it would like to see the IAEA take and would not say whether Washington would push for the board of governors to refer the Iran matter to the UN Security Council. BizVantage – When knowing counts: Business, Investing, Technology. "We certainly think that the board of governors at the IAEA needs to look closely at the secretary general's report on Iran, needs to look closely at the situation on Iran, and needs to take appropriate action," spokesman Richard Boucher said. "We would look for the board to take appropriate action," he told reporters. The IAEA board begins meeting on Monday in Vienna to consider a report from its chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, that has found Iran to have lied about its nuclear program but does not prove the Islamic Republic is developing atomic weapons as the United States alleges. Washington accuses Tehran of pursuing an ostensibly civilian atomic energy program as a cover for clandestine nuclear weapons development. Iran has rejected the allegation. Earlier this week, ElBaradei urged Iran to sign an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that would allow snap inspections of its nuclear sites and said full disclosure was the only way for Tehran to quiet concerns about its atomic energy program. But Iran said on Wednesday that it had not yet decided whether to sign the additional protocol, saying the matter was still under consideration. Should the IAEA board find Iran to be in breach of its existing NPT commitments, the matter could be referred to the UN Security Council, opening up the possibility of sanctions. mvl/gs US-Iran-nuclear-IAEA
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