Russia: Don't be 'hasty' over Iran

VIENNA -- Russia said yesterday the world should not draw "hasty conclusions" over Iran's rebuff of the latest United Nations attempt to investigate allegations the Islamic Republic hid secret work on atomic arms, but the United States and its allies accused Tehran of nuclear defiance.

Under international pressure to show restraint, Israel, which has warned repeatedly that it may strike Iran's nuclear facilities, pointedly urged major world powers to mind their own business, saying it alone would decide what to do to protect the Jewish state's security.

France said Iran's continued stonewalling of the International Atomic Energy Agency "is contrary to the intentions" expressed by Tehran in its recent offer to restart talks over its nuclear activities.

In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney said while world powers have not yet reached a decision on those talks, Iran's refusal to cooperate with the investigation "suggests that they have not changed their behavior when it comes to abiding by their international obligations."

The IAEA's acknowledgment of renewed failure came early yesterday at the conclusion of the second trip in less than a month aimed at investigating suspicions of covert Iranian nuclear weapons work.

The IAEA team had hoped to speak with key Iranian scientists suspected of working on the alleged weapons program, break down opposition to their plans to inspect documents related to nuclear work and secure commitments from Iranian authorities to allow future visits.

But mission head Herman Nackaerts acknowledged his team "could not find a way forward" in negotiations with Iranian officials. A separate IAEA communique clearly -- if indirectly -- blamed Tehran for the lack of progress.

"We engaged in a constructive spirit, but no agreement was reached," it quoted IAEA chief Yukiya Amano as saying.

Iran continued sounding a hard line, with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei telling the nation's nuclear scientists to forge ahead with the atomic program.