ElBaradei: Report on Iran nuclear ability based on realities
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Vienna, June 23, IRNA
Iran-Nuclear-IAEA
Head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei said on Friday his latest report on Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and its ability to enrich uranium was based on realities.
The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency had said in his 1,030-page report earlier this month that Iran has not diverted from the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
However, being under strong pressure by the West, the official later said that he was "not confident about the nature of Iran's nuclear activities in the future."
Commenting on misinterpretations made over his remarks, ElBaradei said what his comment on Iran's ability to enrich uranium was based on the IAEA's inspections and on the existing realities.
"The fact on the ground is that Iran has the knowledge and the capacity to enrich uranium," ElBaradei told reporters after a two-hour talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani in Vienna on Friday.
Stressing that the current standoff over Iran's peaceful nuclear program should be solved "only through diplomatic ways," he said he believed that "Larijani has pledged that he and Iran would work with us to resolve all outstanding issues we discussed."
ElBaradei also stressed the need for conducting "comprehensive inspections" in Iran to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities.
He added that ensuring the international community of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program was a major duty of the UN nuclear watchdog.
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