Iran’s top nuclear negotiator due in Pakistan

By Zeeshan Haider

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Iran’s top nuclear negotiator is due
to visit Pakistan soon as part of Tehran’s effort to head off
sanctions over its controversial nuclear program.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan admitted in March that Abdul Qadeer
Khan, a scientist revered as the father of its atomic bomb, had
supplied Iran with centrifuges that can be used to produce
enriched uranium for nuclear power plants or weapons.

Iran insists its program is peaceful and says traces of
bomb-grade uranium found in Iran by the U.N. nuclear watchdog
in 2003 came from contaminated Pakistani centrifuge components.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Ali Larijani
would arrive in Islamabad on Sunday evening or Monday morning.

“He is likely to tell us about Iran’s discussions with the
IAEA and the European Union on the nuclear issue,” spokesman
Muhammad Naeem Khan said.

The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency is expected
to deliver its latest report on Iran’s nuclear program to 35
nations on the agency’s board of governors on Friday or
Saturday.

This is expected to confirm that Iran has resumed sensitive
nuclear work that could lead it to be referred to the U.N.
Security Council for possible sanctions.

VISITS TO CHINA AND INDIA

Larijani is currently in China and has also visited
Pakistan’s nuclear-armed rival India to lobby against
sanctions.

The European Union agreed on Thursday to press for Iran to
be referred to the Security Council if the Vienna-based IAEA
confirms that Tehran has resumed suspect nuclear activities.

This would end years of negotiations by an EU trio —
France, Britain and Germany — to stop Iran pursuing a nuclear
program the West fears is a cover for developing an atomic
bomb.

The IAEA has been investigating Iran’s nuclear program for
almost three years. It has found no hard evidence to back U.S.
allegations that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons, but it
is not convinced Iran’s atomic ambitions are peaceful.

Pakistan sent parts of old centrifuges to Vienna this year
to help the IAEA in its investigations.

Khan said these had now been returned. He said the IAEA had
shared its findings with Pakistan but declined to give details,
saying it was up to the U.N. agency to disclose its report.

“They have acknowledged our cooperation. Our role has come
to an end in this regard,” he said.

Pakistan faces a tricky balancing act as it tries to boost
strategic ties with Washington while maintaining good relations
with Iran, a fellow Muslim country and its western neighbor.

Pakistan, Iran and India have been discussing the building
of $7 billion pipeline that would carry Iranian gas to
energy-hungry India via Pakistan, a project opposed by
Washington.

President George W. Bush said last month he could consider
using force against Iran as a last resort to press it to give
up its nuclear program. Pakistan, a key ally in the U.S.-led
war on terror, has said it opposes the use of force against
Iran.