Nuclear chief tells Iran time is right for political solution
Head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, expressed optimism about his visit to Iran on arriving there for talks aimed at defusing tension over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
“The time is right for a political solution and the way is negotiations,” the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran early today.
ElBaradei’s visit began not long after Tehran’s announcement that the country had successfully enriched uranium, a key step to producing peaceful nuclear energy or nuclear weapons.
“I would like to see Iran come to terms with the requests of the international community,” he said, explaining the purpose of his trip as being “to clarify remaining outstanding issues on the nature of the Iranian programme”.
Iran’s claims brought it fres international condemnation as allies Russia and China joined several European countries and the United States in expressing their disapproval over the nuclear activities.
Already the UN Security Council had given it until April 28 to clear up suspicions that it wants to become a nuclear power. It has asked Tehran to suspend enrichment and allow unannounced IAEA inspections.
The White House is pressing for UN sanctions against Iran.
Uranium enrichment can produce either fuel for a nuclear energy reactor – as Iran says it seeks – or the material needed for an atomic warhead.
ElBaradei said he hoped the visit would “bring Iran in line with the requests of the international community to take confidence-building measures regarding its activities including suspension of enrichment and related activities until outstanding issues are clarified”.
A team of five IAEA inspectors arrived in Iran late last week.
Today, ElBaradei was to meet Iran’s nuclear chief Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh.
