Iran wants IAEA to inspect Israel Iran's nuclear point man says Tehran expects the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to "follow up" on a resolution to inspect Israel's nuclear facilities. Last year, the General Conference agreed on a resolution requiring Israel to open up for IAEA inspection. "This year we hope... that they would follow up on this, that the Zionist regime [of Israel] will open its nuclear sites to inspection by the IAEA and ... that the IAEA will also pursue this issue very firmly," Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi told Press TV. Salehi said that Western countries were mounting pressure to prevent the IAEA from taking action. He expressed hope that the agency would carry out its obligation without taking sides. Given that Israel is the sole possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, putting pressure on Tel Aviv is the least the IAEA can do, the AEOI head added. Salehi's remarks comes as Arab member states of the IAEA plan to present a resolution to the body in the annual General Conference next week, urging Israel to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Western countries, spearhead by the US, are urging the Arab members of the IAEA to drop the request. US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said Wednesday that the IAEA was not the place to discuss Israel's membership in the NPT. "Israel has fully cooperated with the IAEA," and "we believe there is really no basis for a debate at the IAEA," Philip Crowley said. Article Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/142957.html Show Less >>