The International Atomic Energy Agency has announced plans to send a team of inspectors to Syria later this month. The move comes as the Bush administration is under criticism for delaying its sharing of the intelligence it says could prove Syria is pursuing a secret weapons program. The US backed an Israeli air strike on Syria in September but only handed over intelligence to UN atomic inspectors last month. On Monday, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei criticized the US for the time gap. US Ambassador Gregory Schulte said the US had stalled because it didn’t want to stoke further conflict in the Middle East. Earlier this year, New Yorker correspondent Seymour Hersh reported Israel did not know what it was targeting and was mainly hoping to send a message to Iran. ElBaradei also criticized Iran on Monday, saying it had withheld information on its nuclear plans. US Ambassador Schulte said Iran should face further sanctions.

US Ambassador Gregory Schulte: “In many ways, the choice is up to Iran. Are they ready to stay isolated? Are they ready to subject themselves to further sanction and isolation from the world economic system and financial system? Or are they ready to take that offer that’s on the table? We hope they make that decision to take the offer.”

Iran has offered talks with the US on its nuclear program and Middle East peace. But the Bush administration has preconditioned any negotiations on Iran’s abandonment of its nuclear activities.