IAEA asks Iran to provide maximum transparency

Vienna, Mar 07: The IAEA yesterday (Mar 06, 2006) asked Iran to do its utmost to provide maximum transparency and build confidence in its nuclear programme even as Tehran stressed that pressure and disinformation would have no effect on the country's process of decision making.

While IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said that only through clarification of all questions relevant to Iran's past programme and through confidence building measures could confidence about Iran's current nuclear activities be restored, Iranian President Mehmoud Ahmadinejad warned that political pressure imposed on the people and his government could lead to changes in its decisions and stances.

''This is clearly in the interest both of Iran and of the international community,'' Dr ElBaradei said in his introductory Statement to the Board of Governors at the crucial meeting here today.

He said the IAEA had over the past three years been conducting intensive investigations of Iran's nuclear programme with a view to providing assurances about the peaceful nature of that programme.

During these investigations, the agency had not seen indications of diversion of nuclear material to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

''Regrettably, however, after three years of intensive verification, there remain uncertainties with regard to both the scope and the nature of Iran's nuclear programme. As I mentioned in my report, this is a matter of concern that continues to give rise to questions about the past and current direction of Iran's nuclear programme,'' he added.

He said the work of the agency continued to be central to international security and development. In recent months, the agency had received a great deal of recognition for its efforts, but clearly, there was too much at stake ''to rest on our laurels.'' The 35-member IAEA board has already in its last meeting reported Iran to the UN Security Council. India was among the countries which voted against Iran. It urged Iran to stop uranium enrichment work and abide by IAEA guidelines.

Meanwhile, according to reports from Tehran, the Iranian President today said his country was treading on the path it had correctly chosen, and stressed that Iran would neither use coercion nor accept force imposed on it.

Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony held to observe Tree Planting Day today, the Iranian President said ''We want to see a peaceful and tranquil world and, therefore, we want to work on the basis of international regulations...We move within the framework of international rules and expect others to act accordingly and respect the will of the Iranian nation.

About the countries opposed to Iran's nuclear programme, he said there was no need to put both themselves and the Iranian people in trouble, adding that as long as they respected Iran's right, interaction could take place.

UNI

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