IAEA head “cannot confirm” Iran nuclear intentions – report
Washington, 4 September (IranVNC)—The United Nations nuclear watchdog chief has said that he cannot confirm Iran’s nuclear intentions, but that as long as the Islamic Republic is a party to the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT], it cannot make weapons-grade uranium.
By: IranVNC
Published: Thursday, September 04, 2008
22:00GMT—6:00PM/EST
IRAN – IAEA – NUCLEAR
Washington, 4 September (IranVNC)—The United Nations nuclear watchdog chief has said that he cannot confirm Iran’s nuclear intentions, but that as long as the Islamic Republic is a party to the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT], it cannot make weapons-grade uranium.
“As far as the nuclear weapons are concerned, I cannot confirm nor deny Iran’s intentions,” International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] Director-General Mohammed ElBaradei told the Jordanian daily, al-Haqiqah al-Duwwaliyah, in an interview published on 2 September.
ElBaradei told the newspaper that in order to produce a nuclear weapon, Tehran would need to leave the NPT and expel IAEA inspectors from the country, and said: “Therefore, it [Iran] cannot enrich uranium to the high degree which is needed for the production of a nuclear weapon.”
Iran is a party to the NPT. But in June, the country’s Majlis [parliament] threatened to withdraw from the NPT’s Additional Protocol – an article signed by Iran in December 2003, which allows for snap inspections of its nuclear facilities by IAEA experts.
If Tehran does pull out of the NPT and expel the IAEA’s inspectors, ElBaradei warned that Iran would need “a period of time not less than one year” to acquire the quantity of uranium needed to make the highly-enriched uranium to build an atomic bomb.
The IAEA has held talks with Iran to clarify intelligence reports that suggested Iran had studied nuclear weapons design. Iran has rejected the accusations as “baseless”.
ElBaradei is set to report on the results of the talks to the IAEA board of governors on 9 September.
Western powers suspect Iran’s nuclear activities are aimed at building a nuclear weapon, and have offered a package of political and economic incentives to coax Iran to give up its enrichment work.
Iran has rejected international demands that it suspend its uranium enrichment activities, calling it their right under the NPT.
The U.S. and Israel have both stated that they would pursue a two-track approach toward Iran of sanctions and diplomacy, but neither has taken the military option off the table.
ElBaradei, commenting on the possibility of a military strike on Iran, said it was the “worst eventuality possible” because: “That situation would quickly lead Iran to build nuclear weapons. This line of action would receive the support of all Iranians, even those opposed to the regime and those living abroad.”
Source: Al-Haqiqah al-Duwwaliyah in Arabic
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