Iran to Allow IAEA Greater Monitoring

In the WSJ, here

"Iran agreed with United Nations inspectors to grant greater monitoring of Tehran's uranium-enrichment facility at Natanz as well as a nearly completed heavy-water reactor, according to officials briefed on the talks.

The accord breaks a monthslong impasse between Iran and the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency that has fed into concerns Tehran is moving toward developing atomic weapons. Officials involved in the diplomacy hope Iran's decision could signal a greater willingness by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government to cooperate with the West.

Tehran, engulfed in a postelection political crisis, has offered conflicting signals in recent weeks about its response. But Iran experts said Tehran's decision on the monitors is likely a harbinger of the conciliatory stance it will take toward the international community as the deadline looms, even if it doesn't scale back its nuclear work.

"It's definitely a move by Iran to show cooperation, and so to keep the engagement ball in the air," said Michael Adler, an expert on Iran's nuclear program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "But these are routine safeguards measures, to which Iran is obligated, and not a major concession.".....

Iran's announcement surprised IAEA personnel after months of intransigence. "Natanz has proved a challenge for agency monitors," said one official. "Iran has said they are willing to change how they're operating there."

Last week, Tehran also allowed IAEA inspectors to visit its heavy-water nuclear reactor in the northwestern city of Arak. The inspectors had been barred from visiting the site for more than a year, despite U.N. warnings that Iran risked violating its safeguards agreement with the IAEA. 

The U.N. agency is coming under increased pressure from Western countries to divulge more on allegations that Tehran has already begun taking steps to weaponize its nuclear capabilities. Previous IAEA reports have referred to Tehran's "Alleged Studies," programs some Western countries believe are being pursued to develop nuclear warheads and triggering devices......

A State Department official declined to comment on Iran's new agreement with the IAEA."