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ElBaradei renews calls on Iran to be transparent on nuclear policy

IRNA

Tehran, Oct 16, IRNA -- Visiting chief of UN nuclear supervisory 
body, Mohamed ElBaradei, here on Thursday renewed his call on Iran 
to adopt transparency toward its nuclear energy program, stressing 
that this would guarantee not only Iran`s interests but also those 
of the international community. 
Iran should show full transparency and extend the required 
cooperation in the area of its nuclear activities so that the 
important issues can be resolved as soon as possible, ElBaradei said 
at a news conference upon his arrival here. 
This, he added, will in turn guarantee the interests of Iran as 
well as the international community. 
IAEA expects Iran to be completely reliable and transparent. 
Once this is accomplished, he stated, Iran`s interests will be 
guaranteed. 
Elbaradei hoped that his visit would be an opportunity for Iranian
officials to clarify the issues which he was still looking forward to 
be resolved. 
The IAEA chief arrived in Tehran Thursday morning for a one-day 
visit at the invitation of the Iranian government. 
He is expected to discuss Iran`s signing an additional protocol 
of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in his meetings with 
Iranian officials following indications that Tehran is willing to 
continue cooperation with IAEA. 
Asked how IAEA would help Iran push forward its nuclear energy 
program within NPT regulations, ElBaradei said the agency first 
needed to solve certain issues regarding Iran`s nuclear program. 
There are still several issues that need to be explored through 
expert approaches and it is natural that those issues should be 
resolved, he said. 
The Islamic Republic is already a signatory to the NPT. 
However, the IAEA is refusing to provide Iran with the nuclear 
expertise which it is entitled to receive under the agency`s 
regulations, arguing that Tehran must first sign the NPT`s additional 
protocol that allows unannounced inspections of its nuclear sites. 
Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said Iran has certain 
conditions for signing the NPT protocol, stressing that these 
conditions may be the same as those of the US. 
In his sermon at Tehran`s Friday prayers, Rafsanjani declared that
Iran`s signing of the protocol must not jeopardize its security, 
values and sanctities, and that it must not lead to investigation of 
issues that are not related to the nuclear energy. 
ElBaradei expressed hope that he would be able to press ahead the 
issue of Iran`s signing the NPT protocol in his meetings with Iranian 
officials before the IAEA deadline on Iran is due. 
The IAEA Board of Governors last month set an October 31 deadline 
for Iran to prove it is pursuing peaceful nuclear programs. 
The resolution that was submitted by Canada, Japan and Australia 
also calls on Tehran to clarify its nuclear program by the end of 
October and to suspend its uranium enrichment program. 
Asked about the rights the Islamic Republic is entitled to under 
the NPT protocol regarding its uranium enrichment program, the IAEA 
chief said the NPT has clearly specified Iran`s rights in that 
connection just like any other country. 
However, he added, what matters is that IAEA must receive 
assurances that Iran`s nuclear energy program is peaceful and that 
Iran will `clearly and fully` inform the agency about its nuclear 
activities. 
The IAEA resolution drew the ire of Iranian officials with 
President Mohammad Khatami calling it as `illegitimate, unjust and 
politically-motivated`. 
Khatami said Iran was determined to resolve the issue of the NPT 
protocol, stressing however that Iran gives its national interests and
security paramount significance in taking any position to that effect.
Answering a question on IAEA`s inspections of Iran`s military 
sites, ElBaradei stressed that the agency would not publicize the 
details of its plans to that effect. 
Elbaradei said he did not believe that they would inspect 
the civilian and military sites that have a special significance. 
Rather, they would inspect the sites that are related to their 
work, he said. 
"We are looking for certain data. If we find these data in 
either a military or a civilian site, we have definitely achieved 
our goal." 
AA/AH/213 
End