BEIJING (Reuters) – China welcomed Iran’s nuclear transparency deal with U.N. inspectors on Thursday, despite Western fears that it could be a recipe for delay.
The August 21 “work plan” with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) commits Iran to answer longstanding questions about its nuclear activities over a rough timeline of a few months, leaving untouched Tehran’s expanding uranium enrichment work.
The United States and its big European allies have said the deal diverts attention from U.N. Security Council demands that Iran suspend uranium enrichment and grant broader inspections to defuse mistrust over its nuclear intentions.