IAEA visit to Iran 'last chance,' but little hope of results

VIENNA: The UN atomic agency's second visit to Iran in a month next week could be Tehran's "last chance" to show goodwill on its nuclear programme and avoid sanctions, but analysts and diplomats are less than hopeful.

After a first visit on January 29-31 produced few results, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced it would return to Tehran on February 20-21.

"I'm not optimistic that Iran will provide much more information because I think any honest answers to the IAEA's questions would confirm that Iran had been involved in weapons-related development work and Iran wouldn't want to admit that for fear of being penalised," Mark Fitzpatrick of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies told.

The West has long contended that Iran is seeking the atomic bomb and insists it comply with UN Security Council resolutions to halt enriching uranium, but Tehran says its nuclear programme is merely for civilian purposes. (AFP)