United Nations nuclear inspectors and Iranian officials held what both sides described as “good” talks in Iran about suspicions that the Islamic Republic was seeking to develop atomic weapons, but said more discussions would be needed. The UN inspectors went to Tehran on Jan 27 to confer with Iranian officials on Iran’s suspected atomic weapons programme, and to try to advance efforts to resolve the nuclear row. Tehran says its nuclear activities are for peaceful electricity generation.
Tension between Iran and the West has increased sharply this year after Washington and the European Union imposed the toughest sanctions yet in a drive to force Tehran to provide more information on its nuclear program. The measures take direct aim at the ability of OPEC’s second-biggest oil exporter to sell its crude. Iran rejected the EU sanctions as “psychological warfare” and threatened to cut off oil exports to European countries before July 1 when the sanctions would be fully enforced. Iranian officials have shrugged off the impact of sanctions, saying their country has become more self-reliant.