UN watchdog hopes to wrap up Iran investigation by year's end

WASHINGTON (AFP) Mar 14, 2004
The UN nuclear watchdog hopes to wrap up its investigation of Iran's nuclear program for suspected weapons-related activities by the end of this year, the watchdog's chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Sunday.

"If there is no smoking gun, no 800-pound gorilla, if we get cooperation from the country of origin (for imported nuclear equipment), I see no reason why we should not be able to have at least most of it wrapped up by the end of the year," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief ElBaradei told reporters on a flight to Washington, where he is to meet Wednesday with US President George W. Bush.

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