IAEA cuts Iran technical aid

[Reuters 8 March] The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to cut technical aid to Iran following that country's failure to halt uranium enrichment activities by the UN Security Council’s February deadline. The IAEA’s 35-nation board agreed by consensus to freeze 22 out of 55 aid projects on 8 March. The governing body had previously been split on the issue, with some powers including the United States and France originally demanding more sweeping reductions, with others including the Non-Aligned Movement of developing countries, of which Iran is a member, opposing the cuts. The blocked projects relate to nuclear power planning and nuclear fuel development. Projects involving radiopharmaceuticals and isotopes for medical, agricultural and humanitarian purposes are not affected. Only two other countries – North Korea and Iraq under the regime of Saddam Hussein – have previously been denied nuclear aid because of fears over possible diversions for military use.