TEHRAN, April 24 (RIA Novosti) - Iran's foreign minister said Monday he hoped the "nuclear file" on the country's controversial atomic program would be returned to the competence of the IAEA.
"I hope that the Iranian nuclear file will be returned to the authority of the organization that should be considering it - i.e., the International Atomic Energy Agency," Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters.
The 35 members of the IAEA board referred the Iranian nuclear file to the UN Security Council in February over fears the country could be trying to develop nuclear weapons.
IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei will report April 28 to the council, which has the authority to impose economic sanctions if Iran is found to be in breach of its international commitments.
Russia, which is helping Iran build an $800-million nuclear power plant in Bushehr, has opposed the economic sanctions being pushed by the United States and its European allies, which fear Tehran is seeking to build nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program.
