IAEA to revisit Iranian nuclear site

Iran agreed yesterday to let inspectors from the United Nation's nuclear watchdog revisit its heavy-water reactor site early next week in a push by the UN for more transparency in Iran's disputed nuclear program.

Diplomats said the accord, which came in a second round of negotiations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to clarify the scope of Iran's atomic activities, was a bid by Teheran to head off more painful UN sanctions.

Olli Heinonen, the IAEA's deputy director in charge of nuclear safeguards, said Iran agreed to let inspectors return to the Arak heavy-water complex, which is under construction, next Monday or Tuesday - four months after Iran cut off IAEA access there in protest at existing sanctions.