IAEA chief warns of Iraq lessons over Iran
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Sept 18, IRNA -- Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohammed ElBaradei has urged caution in dealing with Iran`s nuclear program, warning that lessons should be learned over the mistakes made on Iraq. "You need the carrot and the stick -- the incentive and disincentive -- and how you mix these elements in a way that does not chase one of the parties away, or make them feel complacent, is really the art of diplomacy," Baradei said. His warning to give diplomacy a chance was made in an interview with the BBC Friday. It came as France, Britain and Germany joined the US in pressing for a resolution in Vienna calling for Iran to end its uranium enrichment program, even though it is not illegal. The IAEA chief cautioned against reaching conclusions about Iran`s nuclear intentions, citing the lessons of Iraq, and said he was against creating further barriers between Iran and the international community. "My desire is to see the Iranian situation resolved, not to see Iran having nuclear weapons, not to see Iran isolated and become more hawkish," he warned. "Whatever needs to be done to do that, I am all for it," he said. ElBaradei was later reported to have dismissed the latest claims by US officials that the site of a military testing ground near the Iranian capital was linked to nuclear research. "We do not have any indication that this site has nuclear-related activities," he told reporters on the sidelines of an IAEA meeting in Vienna. The IAEA chief also revealed that he will visit South Korea early next month, where there has been a totally different approach to Seoul`s recent admission about its secret nuclear research, which included enriching uranium and separating plutonium. HC/2321/1432
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