THE TELEGRAPH: International divisions over Iran's nuclear ambitions deepened yesterday after the world's nuclear watchdog pleaded for more time for its inspections regime despite admitting international knowledge of Teheran's nuclear programme had diminished.
Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), endorsed Iranian pledges to provide better access to its clandestine atomic programme within "several weeks" even though Iran had failed to bridge a "confidence deficit" with inspectors.
But America, which is leading a campaign for a new round of sanctions on Iran, warned that Iran had shown no signs of compliance. "We have seen this before: promises of full co-operation under pressure, selective co-operation and backsliding when the pressure comes off," said Greg Schulte, the US ambassador at the IAEA.
"Despite four years of intensive investigation and the launch of this work plan four months ago, the IAEA remains unable to confirm the absence of undeclared nuclear activities in Iran." Split widens over Iran’s nuclear plans (more) By Damien McElroy
Mark Alexander
