• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

ElBaradei approves of Iran's recent response to IAEA call

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Vienna, Nov 23, IRNA
Austria-Nuclear-Iran
Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei here Thursday referred to Iran's recent response to the agency's call as a proper measure.

ElBaradei made the remark at the IAEA Board of Governors two-day seasonal meeting at its headquarters which opened today.

Turning to Iran's recent letter to him, the IAEA chief said that the Iranian officials have agreed with taking environmental samples of the country's technical equipment and universities as well as access to the results of nuclear fuel cycle operations conducted in the past.

"The sooner Iran proceeds with transparency measures, the sooner the agency will be able to secure the status, nature and size of Iran's nuclear activity," he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks about Iran, he referred to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1696 and the Board of Governor's resolution of February 2005 and said, "Compliance with the contents of these resolutions will enable the agency to clarify the remaining points on Iran's nuclear issue.

"Given that Iran has not yet suspended its uranium enrichment process, IAEA cannot proceed to solve the remaining problems.

"This is due to Iran's decision to restrict its cooperation with the agency within the framework of Safeguard Agreements, while further cooperation is required in this respect, particularly on transparency," he added.

The IAEA chief said that this is why the agency cannot continue its attempts on Iran's non-declared nuclear program, which is certainly a cause for continuing serious concern.

He pointed to the IAEA call for solving the remaining problems within the framework of Safeguard Agreements as a prerequisite for reconstruction of two decades of Iran's nuclear activities and said that this will verify the peaceful nature of such activities.

The UN nuclear watchdog chief noted that this is a special stance provided by Iran.

"I would like to underline once more the call on Iran to put on its agenda the Additional Protocol and the transparency required by the agency for proceeding with its duties," he added.

Meanwhile, ElBaradei hoped that the talks between Iran and other negotiators involved in the issue will prepare the conditions for reaching a comprehensible solution to be respected by all parties.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he referred to North Korea's nuclear activities and said that the reports on the nuclear tests conducted there in the past month are regretful and a cause for deep concern.

"According to the the UNSC resolution on North Korea's nuclear tests, it should suspend its nuclear weapons program.

"Such a measure by North Korea underlined once more the need for a system banning nuclear tests worldwide and the significance of finding a solution for nuclear programs through talks," he added.

He declared the agency's readiness to cooperate with North Korea to guarantee its peaceful intention and expressed his satisfaction with resumption of talks between the parties involved in the issue.

The IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna will continue up to Friday.

2326/1412