ElBaradei: US outreach to Iran could aid IAEA probe
UN nuclear watchdog chief urges Tehran to do more to defuse mistrust in its nuclear ambitions
A new US readiness to engage Iran could help resolve suspicions about its nuclear work but Tehran must do more to "unblock this stalemated situation", the UN nuclear watchdog chief said on Monday.
Mohamed ElBaradei made the remarks in an address kicking off a weeklong meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board of governors, the first since US President Barack Obama took office.
Obama has pledged diplomatic outreach to Iran and other US foes after years of unfruitful isolation policy by George W. Bush, but concrete steps await the outcome of a foreign policy review due for completion in about a month.
Still, Washington's return under Obama to support for multilateral cooperation to address frozen conflicts has been greeted with relief in the IAEA and by many of its governors, and ElBaradei's remarks touched on that.
"I am hopeful that the apparent fresh approach by the international community to dialogue with Iran will give new impetus to the efforts to resolve this long-standing issue in a way that provides the required assurances about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, while assuring Iran of its right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," he said.
'Iran stonewalling IAEA attempts'
ElBaradei did not mention the Obama administration by name, but his inference was clear.
But he reiterated that Iran was stonewalling IAEA attempts to defuse mistrust in its nuclear ambitions by:
- Refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can yield fuel for power plants or, if reconfigured, for atom bombs.
- Refusing to allow UN inspector checks beyond declared nuclear installations.
- Refusing to let inspectors go to a heavy water reactor under construction to verify Iranian design data to ensure it will be put only to peaceful uses.
- Refusing to provide documentation, access to officials for interviews and sites in question to check intelligence allegations of "possible military dimensions" to its nuclear fuel program.
"I again urge Iran to implement all measures required to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program at the earliest possible date and to unblock this stalemated situation," ElBaradei told the gathering.
Iran says it is enriching uranium to make electricity, not bombs. It says the intelligence is forged.
