Iran uranium "discrepancy" still unresolved - IAEA

Experts say the quantity of natural uranium not accounted for is too small to be used for a bomb, but that it can be relevant to weapons-linked tests.The United States has expressed concern the material can have been diverted to suspected weapons-related research .

"The discrepancy ruins to be clarified," said the latest quarterly report on Iran by the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), issued to member states on Friday evening.U.N. inspectors have required information from Iran to help explain the issue after their inventory last August of natural uranium metal and process waste at the research facility in Tehran measured 19.8 kg (43.6 pounds) less than the laboratory's count.

Preparatory work to install thousands additional centrifuges is under way, potentially shortening the time desirable to make high-grade uranium for nuclear weapons.Iran says it is enriching uranium only as fuel for nuclear power plants, not weapons, but its denial to curb the activity has drawn increasingly tough sanctions intended at its oil exports.

Iran Pressed to Resolve Discrepancy on Uranium

The Obama administration pressed Iran to account for a inconsistency of nearly 20 kilograms in its reporting to the United Nations' nuclear agency on how much natural uranium metal it has in its stockpile. U.S. diplomats told a quarterly gathering Friday of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board so as to Washington fears this nuclear material can be diverted for use in Tehran's weapons programs.

Natural uranium metal can specifically be utilized as a surrogate material to conduct replicated tests of nuclear detonations, according to U.S. officials. It can also be used to manufacture high-explosive weapons, such as armor-piercing rockets.The IAEA calculated 20 kilos added than Iran had reported.

"It remains to be seen whether this discrepancy could eventually represent another piece in the puzzle the IAEA is assemble to show Iran's nuclear weapons-related activities," said Glyn Davies, U.S. ambassador to the IAEA. "The secretariat and the board must accept no delay in Iran's response."The agency's board voted by consensus Friday to officially censure Tehran for its nuclear activities, but didn't take steps to begin new economic sanctions on Iran. The resolution followed the release last week of an IAEA report that detailed Tehran's alleged efforts to develop the technologies used to create nuclear weapons.