ElBaradei blasts Israel's "mad" military threats against Iran
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, May 16, IRNA -- The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei slammed Israel's ongoing military threats against Iran, branding it "utter madness."
Talking to the Hamburg-based news magazine Der Spiegel, the UN nuclear watchdog boss said, "It would be utterly mad to attack Iran. That would turn the region into one giant fireball and the Iranians would immediately begin to build the bomb ... supported by the entire Islamic world."
Meanwhile, ElBaradei whose tenure at the IAEA expires this November, called on
Iran to resolve any outstanding issue with the UN nuclear agency.
He expressed hope a compromise on the Iranian nuclear dossier could be reached in the wake of the readiness of the new US administration to hold direct and unconditional talks with Tehran.
"I advise the people I meet from Iran: Shake the hand that Obama is offering you," ElBaradei said.
Tehran has reiterated it would be ready for direct and unconditional negotiations, provided Washington changes its hostile stance towards the Islamic Republic.
Iran's leadership has "positively" hailed US President Barack Obama's desire to boost dialogue in the Middle East but made clear it had to be followed with a complete change in American diplomacy.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 489971
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