Mounting pressure from the US to impose new sanctions against
Iran put Tehran's nuclear program at the focus as the UN's nuclear
watchdog convened on Monday.
"I am increasingly disturbed by the current stalemate and the
brewing confrontation -- a stalemate that urgently needs to be
broken, and a confrontation that must be defused," Mohamed
ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), said in his introductory statement to the agency's
board meeting.
The 35-nation board of governors of the IAEA started a regular
meeting in Vienna Monday, discussing topics ranging from the
agency's 2006 annual report to nuclear safety and security issues,
with Iran's nuclear program set to be the focus.
Despite the present deadlock, ElBaradei said he still prefers
negotiated solution to the issue.
"I continue believe that dialogue and diplomacy are ultimately
the only way to achieve the negotiated solution foreseen in the
relevant Security Council resolutions," ElBaradei said.
"The earlier that conditions are created to move in this
direction, the better," he added.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted on March 24 a new
resolution, the second punitive one, with tougher sanctions to
pressure Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities.
An IAEA report two weeks ago said that Iran continued to resist
the UN Security Council ban on enrichment and instead was expanding
its activities.
ElBaradei reiterated the report's findings to the IAEA
board.
"The facts on the ground indicate that Iran continues to perfect
its knowledge relevant to enrichment, and to expand the capacity of
its enrichment facility," he said.
ElBaradei said the expansion arouse a key proliferation concern
since the IAEA made no progress in its efforts to resolve
outstanding issues relevant to the nature and scope of Iran's
nuclear program.
The UN nuclear watchdog chief also accused Iran of continuing to
put additional restrictions and limitations on IAEA's verification
activities, while acknowledging Iran continues to provide IAEA
access to its nuclear material and facilities, including the
enrichment facility at Natanz, in accordance with its safeguards
agreement.
"The agency has been able to verify that no declared nuclear
material in Iran has been diverted," ElBaradei said.
The US and some European countries accused Tehran of trying to
develop nuclear weapons with its uranium enrichment project, an
accusation Iran denies, saying it only wants it for
electricity.
The US is using the IAEA meeting to gather support for a third
round of sanctions against Iran, which Iran is trying to avoid.
On the occasion of the IAEA board meeting, Iran held high-level
nuclear talks with the EU in Vienna Monday morning, a move billed
as a diplomatic effort to relieve pressure.
Javad Vaedi, a deputy to Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali
Larijani, met with Robert Cooper, a top aide of EU foreign policy
chief Javier Solana, which was intended to prepare for more talks
between Larijani and Solana.
"Today's working session was good. I consider it kind of
constructive ... (but) you should not expect kind of a huge
miracle," Vaedi said.
"We made progress but one cannot expect miracles in this
business," Cooper, together with Vaedi, told reporters at a press
briefing following the meeting.
Larijani met with Solana in Madrid, Spain more than ten days
ago, for talks that failed to break the deadlock over Tehran's
nuclear program.
Although Larijani and Solana agreed to intensify their dialogue
with another one face-to-face in a meeting in two weeks' time, the
date has yet to be set.
Meanwhile, Vaedi had also planned to meet ElBaradei, but the
eye-catching event was later canceled.
The aborted meeting was termed as explanatory as Iran would use
the chance to answer some questions about its current nuclear
program, a move to show Tehran's willingness to cooperate.
But the meeting was abruptly canceled due to Iran's domestic
reason, western diplomats said.
During the five-day meeting, the Vienna-based IAEA will also
pick up the nuclear issue on the Korea Peninsula, diplomats
said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2007)
