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UN nuclear watchdog calls on US to join Europe in talks on Iran`s activities

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 2, IRNA -- The United Nations atomic watchdog agency says 
it is `vital` for the United States to join European efforts seeking a
diplomatic solution to problems arising out of Iran`s nuclear program 
and is underscoring the urgency of pre-empting nuclear proliferation 
and potential acts of terrorism, said a press release issued by the 
United Nations Information Center here on Wednesday. 
Giving prominence to a series of media interviews by its director 
general last week at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, 
Switzerland, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) highlighted
efforts to achieve nuclear verification in Iran and the Democratic 
People`s Republic of Korea. 
On Iran Mohamed ElBaradei said progress was being made by IAEA 
nuclear safeguards inspectors. 
In November the Agency called on Iran to grant access to provide 
`credible assurances` that it has not engaged in any undeclared 
activities after it had for many years concealed its nuclear 
activities in breach of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 
"Over the last 15 months, we have made good strides in 
understanding the nature and scope of its program," ElBaradei said in 
one interview quoted on the agency`s web site. 
He urged States to back the agency`s verification work, while also
emphasizing the importance of supporting diplomatic routes and 
approaches such as the talks between Iran and the European Union. It 
is `vital` for the United States to join the dialogue, he added. 
"Nuclear weapons are a recipe for disaster," he said in an 
interview with the Washington Post. "We need a security system that 
does not rely on them." 
While in Davos, he took part in a panel on non-proliferation that 
included experts and senior officials from the United States, Iran and
the Republic of Korea. 
He emphasized the need to strengthen the world`s nuclear regime, 
and steps that he has proposed for doing so, including a stronger 
collective security framework that he will propose to the NPT Review 
Conference convening in May at UN headquarters in New York. 
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