IRAN - Aug. 27 - Enriched Uranium Traces Found.

A report in The FT says: "The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that its inspectors have found traces of weapons-grade enriched uranium at an Iranian nuclear facility, increasing the pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme. According to diplomats familiar with a new report by the UN's nuclear watchdog, environmental sampling found particles of highly enriched uranium at Natanz, a vast plant still under construction about 320 miles south of Tehran. The agency said more tests would be needed to determine the origin of the material, but the findings will bolster US suspicions that Iran's nuclear energy programme is designed capacitate itself to produce nuclear weapons. Iran claimed that the samples were due to contamination of imported equipment. The IAEA report also revealed that Iran had admitted for the first time to having carried out 'uranium conversion experiments' in the early 1990s. Iran sought to reduce the pressure it will now face at a board meeting of the Vienna-based IAEA next month by declaring it was ready to discuss an agreement - known as the additional protocol - that would permit intrusive inspections of all nuclear facilities. Mark Gwozdecky, IAEA spokesman, said the agency had doubts, particularly with regard to enrichment, that required 'urgent' resolution. But he cautioned that patience was required to investigate the recent findings. 'Lessons we have learned from past inspections demonstrate the value of a professional and objective inspectorate which does not jump to conclusions on the basis of partial knowledge', he said. 'Ultimately, however, the only way to high confidence in the peaceful nature of their nuclear programme is for Iran to sign and bring into force the additional protocol', he added. The report said Iran had improved its cooperation with the agency, giving it access to previously banned sites. Patrick Clawson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said the Bush administration was concerned that Iran was stalling. 'Signing the additional protocol is not sufficient for the US', he said. Iran says it is seeking to develop the full nuclear fuel cycle but insists that its programme is for peaceful use".