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IAEA Chief Says Iran Has Chance To Regain World's Trust

2 February 2006 -- The UN atomic watchdog chief, Muhammad el-Baradei, said today Iran still has a chance to regain the trust of the international community concerning its disputed nuclear program.

"This is a critical stage, but in no way a crisis situation. This is about confidence building, the urgent need for Iran to take confidence building [steps], but it is not about any imminent threat."

But el-Baradei added that Iran's move to resume limited enrichment of uranium last month "is not conducive" to restoring international trust.

El-Baradei was speaking as the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met in Vienna to discuss reporting Iran's nuclear program to the Security Council.

An IAEA spokesman said the panel is not expected to vote on the issue today. The session is set to continue on 3 February.

In Iran, President Mahmud Ahmadinejad dismissed warnings that his country faced international isolation because of its nuclear program. Tehran says it is for peaceful purposes.

(Reuters, AFP)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org