'No proof' that Iran is making nuclear weapons
February 16, 2005
Washington - There is no evidence to support the claim that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei said in The Washington Post today.
"On Iran, there really hasn't been much development, neither as a result of our inspections or as a result of intelligence," said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general.
ElBaradei called for greater US participation in diplomatic efforts to engage Iran and North Korea in talks about their nuclear programmes.
The IAEA chief praised Britain, France and Germany for talking Iran into suspending its nuclear enrichment programme for weapons-grade uranium.
Iran and the EU embarked in December on negotiations towards a long-term agreement to give Tehran trade, technology and security aid and guarantees in return for it taking steps to reassure the international community that its nuclear programme is strictly peaceful.
ElBaradei criticised Washington's refusal to talk with Iran, dismissing the argument that this would legitimise Tehran's Islamic government, which the US accuses of supporting terrorism.
"I don't see talking to a regime as legitimisation,"
ElBaradei said.
"They talk to North Korea, and I don't think that legitimises the North Korean regime."
On North Korea's announcement last week that it had built nuclear weapons and was pulling out of six-nation talks about its atomic programme, ElBaradei said his agency could not verify Pyongyang's claim since its inspectors in the Stalinist nation were expelled two years ago.
However, he considered the North Koreans' announcement a sign that they were feeling ignored.
ElBaradei urged the US, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia to coax North Korea into accepting IAEA inspections once again, "the sooner, the better". - Sapa-AFP
