| The head of the United Nations agency entrusted | | | | energy purposes but the United States and other |
| with curbing the spread of nuclear weapons said | | | | countries insist that it is clandestinely seeking to |
| today he did not expect any "breakthrough" or | | | | produce nuclear weapons. In August Iran |
| "positive agreement" on Iran's nuclear programme | | | | rescinded its voluntary suspension of nuclear fuel |
| at the current meeting of the atomic watchdog's | | | | conversion, which can produce the enriched |
| Board of Governors now under way in Vienna. | | | | uranium necessary either for nuclear power |
| "Unfortunately the picture is still hazy as to the | | | | generation or for nuclear weapons. |
| scope and nature of Iran's nuclear programme," | | | | As he has repeatedly over the past three years, |
| International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) | | | | Mr. ElBaradei called on Iran to provide "maximum |
| Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters | | | | transparency," urging it to again freeze its |
| before formally presenting his latest report to the | | | | research and development activities until a solution |
| Board. | | | | is found. |
| He said IAEA had not seen indications of diversion | | | | "Regrettably, however, after three years of |
| of nuclear material to nuclear weapons or other | | | | intensive verification, there remain uncertainties |
| nuclear explosive devices during its inspections. | | | | with regard to both the scope and the nature of |
| But he warned that there were still a number of | | | | Iran's nuclear programme," he said in formally |
| "important uncertainties" that need to be clarified | | | | presenting the report to the Board. |
| about the programme, which has been a matter | | | | "As I mentioned in my report, this is a matter of |
| of international concern ever since the discovery | | | | concern that continues to give rise to questions |
| in 2003 that Iran had concealed its nuclear | | | | about the past and current direction of Iran's |
| activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations | | | | nuclear programme. For confidence to be built in |
| under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). | | | | the peaceful nature of Iran's programme, Iran |
| "I do not expect the Board to adopt a resolution | | | | should do its utmost to provide maximum |
| on the Iranian issue unless there is a breakthrough | | | | transparency and build confidence." |
| and unless there is a positive agreement," Mr. | | | | But he also warned against confrontation. "The |
| ElBaradei said. "As things stand I do not expect | | | | only solution I see is a comprehensive agreement |
| the Board to adopt a resolution." | | | | that covers the nuclear issue, the security issue, |
| He added that as requested by the Board in | | | | the economic issue and political issue," he told |
| February he would transmit his latest report to | | | | reporters. "Confrontation could be |
| the Security Council, which has the power to | | | | counterproductive. It would not provide us with a |
| impose economic sanctions. "There is universal | | | | durable solution. |
| recognition that this is an issue of serious | | | | "The earlier that we bring the parties back to the |
| implication to international peace and security," he | | | | negotiating table the better for everybody. |
| stressed. "The whole Middle East security is very | | | | Meantime I call on all parties to exercise maximum |
| much at stake." | | | | restraint in their public statements. |
| Iran says its activities are solely for peaceful | | | | |