(CNN) -- Top International Atomic Energy Agency officials arrived in Iran Sunday, state media reported, after the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog expressed fresh concerns that the Islamic republic was trying to develop nuclear weapons.
"We are trying... to resolve all the outstanding issues with Iran," chief inspector Herman Nackaerts told reporters earlier, as he was about to leave Vienna, Austria, according to Press TV. "We are looking forward to the start of a dialogue, a dialogue that is overdue."
A mission to Iran by such a senior team -- which also includes the agency's second-in-command, Rafael Grossi -- is unusual, the agency said when it announced the visit on Monday. The announcement of the mission came shortly after the European Union imposed a tough round of new sanctions on Iran, aimed at cutting off funding to the country's nuclear program. The United States and Australia have also ramped up sanctions on Iran in the past week.
The United States and its allies think Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies it.
Speaking Friday at the Davos Forum in Switzerland, energy agency Director General Yukiya Amano told reporters the visit is intended "to clarify the issues with possible military dimensions. "We are not very sure whether Iran has declared everything and, therefore, we are not very sure that everything stays in peaceful purpose," he said. "In addition, we have information that Iran has engaged in activities related to the development of nuclear weapons. Therefore, we need to clarify."
The energy agency reported in November that it can no longer verify that the Iranian nuclear program remains peaceful, and Iran is under increasing international pressure to halt its nuclear fuel work.
Western sanctions have targeted its currency, the rial, driving up prices for goods within Iran, and the European Union announced Monday that it would stop importing Iranian oil as of July 1 in an effort to starve the country's nuclear program of funding.
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I think that it would be very dangerous if Iran get nuclear weapons. It would not only be bad for the U.S. it could be faital to the rest of the world. Even though they are not positive they should do everything they can to pervent them from getting whole of them.
ReplyDeleteEmma Brunelle P3
I think it would be horrible if Iran got nuclear weapons because a lot of people could get killed or injured. I also think that its better off not having the nuclear weapons just because it is. I also think that if you bring a nuclear weapon you could easily kill someone that you didn't actually want to kill so it could be a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteMacKenzie N. 1
I think that Iran having nuclear weapons is a bad signed that they are planing to kill people. The U.S. government should look deeper into what Iran is doing with the nuclear weapons. Whatever Iran is planing to do with the nuclear weapons, the U.S. and it's allies should be prepare just in case.
ReplyDeleteJimmy P7
I think that the U.S. should keep looking into this. it is important that we find out if there really is nuclear weapons in iran. I think we should search iran for the nuclear weapons.
ReplyDeleteTim M.
If Iran was even suspected for building nuclear weapons, I believe the United States should take the situation as serious as possible. The main reason, I think, is because our relationship with them in the past has not been the greatest. America should do whatever it takes it find if this is actually happening, and if it is, we definitely need to find a way to stop it. This would only be in the protection of our own country and its people. Maybe even others.
ReplyDeleteLiana H3
I totally agree with Liana. In my opinion, the U.S. needs to find out if Iran is actually producing nuclear weapons. If they are, it would be bad for American citizens and any other citizens of countries who don't have good relations with Iran. Our relations in the past haven't been the best with Iran, in my opinion. I think that we need to better our relations with them, so that we don't have to worry every time there's word of nuclear weapons.
ReplyDeleteBarrett B.3
I think we need to find out and do something to prevent Iran from making nuclear weapons. I think we need to create better relations with them and stop them from producing these weapons. Also, if they succeed in making nuclear weapons, we definately need to stay on their good side.
ReplyDeleteShannel D. 3
Our relationship with Iran cannot be jeopardized right now. We can't go tearing in to Iran thinking that they have nuclear weapons, but we also cannot stand by and let it happen if it's true. We need to do some serious investigating because that is a serious accusation. We do not want a repeat of what happened in Iraq because we ended up being wrong about that. Iran with nuclear weapons is extremely dangerous. If it's true, they need to be stopped immediately. As Liana said, our protection is our main priority.
ReplyDeleteKimmy S. P3
I understand the situation of the U.S and i see why is worried about the nuclear weapons that are apparently being produced in Iran but i think they should stay out of the sittuation the more they can, we already have a bad relationship with them, I don't think i'll be a good idea to send troops or anythin like that and if they are gonna do something they better do it without making a big deal so the things don't warm up
ReplyDeleteLucy M7
I agree with shannel we need to figure out how to stop iran from making the weapons, and we need to get on there good side, or else it probably won't turn out pretty!
ReplyDeleteSavannah T7
LAST COMMENT!
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