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BBC MUNDO RADIO
The head of Iran's nuclear program says the US and its allies labeled Tehran's newly-announced under-construction nuclear plant secretive while the themselves admit they knew about the plan.
"The Americans say that they knew of the new plant prior to Iran's announcement and have presented aerial pictures of the location, so why are they claiming that the project was clandestine?"
In line with its transparency policy over the country's nuclear program, Iran wrote a letter to the UN nuclear watchdog on September 21, saying that it was constructing a second plant for uranium enrichment. The letter was sent to the IAEA 12 months before the agency's regulations oblige its members states to inform of new developments.
According to the agency's document 153, member states are obliged to inform the body of the existence of enrichment plants 6 months before the introduction of nuclear materials into the facility.
The West, Salehi continued, was seeking to use the Qom plant at a time when they could "gain maximum impact from the issue."
"They wanted to pass a resolution at the G-20 summit in Pittsburg … but Iran informed the IAEA sooner than they could act," he added.
The new plant, according to the letter, will produce enriched uranium up to 5 percent, consistent with its nuclear energy program.
During a September 25 press conference, the presidents of the United States and France said that all options were on the table with regards to Iran, implying that they may be considering a military strike against the country.
British Prime Minster, Gordon Brown said that Iran's "serial deception" in its nuclear work demanded a tougher action by the international community.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi ,on September 26 called on the West to "respect international law and refrain from interfering in the IAEA's internal affairs."
Iran has also announced that it will allow inspections of the new site, after "the details of the inspections are worked out."
The announcement won praise by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who on Saturday welcomed Iran's decision to admit IAEA inspectors to a newly disclosed uranium enrichment plant.
"It is always welcome when Iran makes a decision to comply with the international rules and regulations, and particularly with respect to the IAEA," Clinton told reporters in New York.
Iran and the six major powers -- Russia, China, Britain, France and the US plus Germany -- have agreed on October 1 as the date to hold wide-ranging talks addressing global issues along with Tehran's differences with some Western countries
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