Iran blocked UN inspectors on test visit to nuclear site

VIENNA (AFP) - Iran blocked UN atomic experts on a first unannounced test inspection of an underground nuclear site where it enriches uranium, despite a pledge to allow such visits, diplomats told AFP Thursday.

The watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency had in March told Iran to allow its inspectors to install surveillance cameras at the site in Natanz but Tehran refused this and in return promised to allow frequent, unannounced visits.

A first test on April 21 of this agreement "was a total failure," said a diplomat in Vienna, home to the IAEA, who added that a successful unannounced inspection has not yet taken place.

"The Iranians did not let the IAEA inspectors into the halls where the cascades of centrifuges are," the diplomat said, referring to the production lines of centrifuges which enrich uranium.

"So they couldn't get details of what is going on there," the diplomat said.

Problems with inspections were confirmed by two other envoys in Vienna.

Both Iranian and IAEA officials refused to comment.

At stake is Iranian compliance with inspections by the IAEA, the verification arm of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the world's basic agreement against the spread of atomic weapons.

The UN Security Council has imposed two rounds of sanctions against Iran for failing to stop uranium enrichment, which makes fuel for civilian nuclear power reactors but can also produce the explosive core of atom bombs.