IAEA does not rule out that Iran posses enriched uranium

Iran seeks cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but the agency cannot confirm the fact that Tehran does not possess enriched uranium, a high-level source in the IAEA secretariat, who asked his name to be withdrawn, told reporters in Vienna.

The same thought, he said, is implied in the IAEA confidential report to be published "one or two days before the meeting of the Managing Council slated for September 8."

According to the source, IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei visited the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran after Tehran admitted its existence and also the Arak facility 150 miles south of Tehran.

"U.S. assertions that Iran has weapons-grade uranium are not unfounded, because traces of enriched uranium were found in Iran," the source said.

In his view, "it is clear why Iran is not going, so far, to sign an additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which envisages surprise inspections of all facilities on Iranian territory that may be of interest to the IAEA and to the international public."