The IAEA wants more access to Iran's suspected sites

European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg are expected to call on Iran to sign up urgently and unconditionally to an additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The protocol provides for tougher, short-notice inspections of suspected nuclear sites. Correspondents say the EU call, while stopping short of backing American accusations that Iran already has an illicit nuclear weapons programme, is likely to be linked to the progress of continuing trade negotiations with Iran. At the same time, a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna will hear a report likely to be critical of Iran's nuclear programme. Some EU countries are pushing for a halt to trade talks with Iran, which started last year.