ElBaradei warns of sanctions on NKorea, Iran

Washington, Oct 24: New UN sanctions imposed on North Korea and under consideration for Iran could empower hardliners in both countries, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency warned on Monday.

Mohammed ElBaradei, executive director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said he remained unconvinced Iran was developing nuclear weapons and ''absolutely'' believed a nuclear deal with Pyongyang was still possible.

''Once you start applying penalties, it brings hardliners in the driver's seat,'' he told an audience at Georgetown University, where he received an award.

He questioned whether sanctions in general could work, but said if they were applied they must be done in a ''measured way to induce a change of behavior'' and coupled simultaneously with efforts to engage the two states in dialogue.

''In all these issues, dialogue is indispensable,'' he said.

The UN Security Council voted unanimously on October 14 to impose financial and weapons sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear test.

Britain, France and Germany are drafting a resolution aimed at imposing sanctions on Iran for defying a Security Council order to halt by August 31 uranium enrichment activities believed geared to developing nuclear weapons. Tehran insists it is only working to produce electricity.

ElBaradei, who with his agency won the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, described the North's first nuclear test on Oct. 9 as a ''cry for help,'' detonated because Pyongyang had not gotten an essential security assurance from the United States.

The international community has to move beyond old approaches and figure out ''how we can change the hearts and minds'' of countries bent on pursuing sensitive nuclear activities, he said.

The United States has insisted North Korea return to six-country nuclear talks before it will engage directly with Pyongyang but ElBaradei said format was unimportant.

''The consequences are too important to be hostage to a question of ego,'' he said.

The United States and many of its allies insist Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon but ElBaradei said ''the jury's still out'' about Iran's intentions and at any rate, as the case of Libya -- which gave up its nuclear program, proved, ''future intentions can change overnight.'' He noted that U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte had estimated Iran would not have a nuclear weapon before 2010-2015 and said ''this tells me we have ample time to negotiate'' with Tehran.

ElBaradei, who in the past has called for establishment of a multinational program to enrich and reprocess nuclear fuel so the technology does not spread, said such a system would only work if ''everybody,'' including the United States, participated.

REUTERS