IAEA signs accord for enhanced UN nuclear inspections in Iran

Iran signed an agreement yesterday with the United Nations nuclear "requires States to provide an expanded declaration of their nuclear activities and grants the Agency broader rights of access to sites in the country," the IAEA said.

IRNA, the official news agency said that Chairman of the Expediency Council (EC) Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said today that Iran's signing the additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has put the ball in the court of others. Rafsanjani, however, warned that the parties dealing with Iran's nuclear energy program will be the losers if they try to blackmail or deceive the Islamic Republic over the NPT protocol."

IRNA quoted him saying "If other parties try to deceive, misuse or blackmail (Iran over the protocol), and create an atmosphere of intimidation, they will be the losers."

Iran had previously said that it will not give up its right to develop all the needed nuclear technology and tools as long as it is for peaceful purpose, as it is legitimate under current regimes. It is not clear if this decision is a quite reversal of this position or not.