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Iran on Sunday declared itself optimistic about the United Nations experts' visit aimed at probing suspected military aspects of its nuclear program, and its lawmakers postponed debate on a proposed halt to oil flows to the European Union watched closely in energy markets.
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A team of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors began a three-day visit to advance the effort to resolve a row about nuclear work that Iran says centers on making electricity but that the West suspects is aimed at eventually making a nuclear weapon.
Tensions with the West rose this month when the United States and the European Union imposed the toughest sanctions yet in a drive to force Tehran to provide more information on its nuclear program. The measures take direct aim at the ability of the second-biggest oil exporter in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to sell its crude.
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The Mehr news agency quoted Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi as saying during a trip to Ethiopia: "We are very optimistic about the outcome of the IAEA delegation's visit to Iran ... Their questions will be answered during this visit ... We have nothing to hide, and Iran has no clandestine [nuclear] activities."
Striking a sterner tone, Iran's parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, warned the IAEA team to carry out a "logical, professional, and technical" job or suffer the consequences.
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"This visit is a test for the IAEA. The route for further cooperation will be open if the team carries out its duties professionally," state media reported Larijani as saying. "Otherwise, if the IAEA turns into a tool [for major powers to pressure Iran], then Iran will have no choice but to consider a new framework in its ties with the agency."
Iran's parliament in the past has approved bills to oblige the government to review its level of cooperation with the IAEA. However, Iran's top officials have always underlined the importance of preserving ties with the watchdog body.
Before departing from Vienna, IAEA Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts said he hoped the Islamic state would tackle the watchdog's concerns "regarding the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program."
Parliament Debate
Less than one week after the EU's 27 member states agreed to stop importing crude from Iran beginning July 1, Iranian lawmakers were due to debate a bill on Sunday that would cut off oil supplies to the EU in a matter of days.
Now, Iranian lawmakers have postponed discussing the bill.
"No such draft bill has yet been drawn up, and nothing has been submitted to the parliament. What exists is a notion by the deputies, which is being seriously pursued to bring it to a conclusive end," Emad Hosseini, a representative of the parliament's Energy Committee, told Mehr. "Some MPs had an idea that should be studied by the energy committee before being drafted as a bill. We hope our discussions will be finished by Friday."
Refiners
By turning the sanctions back on the EU, lawmakers hope to deny the bloc the six-month window it had planned to give those of its members most dependent on Iranian oil -- including some of the most economically fragile in southern Europe -- to adapt.
