AFP, Washington, 22 November 2008 (excerpts) – European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Friday he was “worried” by an international watchdog’s report that Iran is not cooperating with calls to stop its sensitive nuclear work.

“I am worried (by) the report of the Agency in Vienna,” Solana told reporters after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued its report on Wednesday.

Solana, tasked with the United States and five other world powers with presenting proposals to the Iranians to stop uranium enrichment, recalled that it is the second IAEA report to say “they are not cooperating.

“And some of the figures he offers about the quantities, the number of centrifuges, are troublesome,” Solana added.

A top diplomat close to the IAEA said Iran was using some 3,800 centrifuges on November 7 and was ready to get 2,200 more working.

The IAEA in a restricted report, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, said that “contrary to the decisions of the (UN) Security Council, Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities.”
And “as a result of the lack of cooperation by Iran in connection with the alleged studies and other associated key remaining issues of serious concern, the agency has not been able to make substantive progress,” it added.