Nonaligned nations on Tuesday voiced their support for the deal reached last month between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran despite western skepticism.
Addressing a meeting of IAEA governing board that opened Monday in Vienna, Cuban ambassador Norma Miguelina Goicochea Estenoz said the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) shares IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei 's view that "this work plan (timetable) is a significant step forward."
The NAM "reiterates its full confidence in the impartiality and professionalism of the Secretariat of the IAEA," she said.
Iran has pledged late last month to answer outstanding questions about its controversial nuclear program, but the deal falls short of support from some western countries which considered it as Iran's fresh trick to delay UN sanctions.
Portuguese ambassador Joaquim Duarte, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said Tuesday that the European Union has " taken note" of the deal but stressed that the Iran has so far failed to suspend uranium enrichment "contrary to the decisions of the (UN) Security Council."
Instead of addressing global concerns about its nuclear program, "Iran has further increased its enrichment capacities," he said.
UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei has reportedly walked out during the meeting in protest against the statement by the European Union which apparently failed to support the IAEA diplomacy.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Sunday it was " impossible" that Tehran would suspend uranium enrichment, which Iran repeatedly claims will only be used for peaceful means such as generating power.
Western countries has been pushing for UN sanctions to stop Iran's nuclear program, which could be used to make nuclear weapons.
Source: Xinhua
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