Date:14/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/14/stories/2006041407161800.htm

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Iran: ElBaradei for political solution

Atul Aneja

IAEA chief optimistic about his visit

Dubai: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei has called for a political solution to end Iran's nuclear crisis, two days after Teheran declared that it had produced enriched uranium on its own. "The time is right for a political solution and the way is negotiations," Mr. ElBaradei said soon after he arrived at Teheran's Mehrabad International Airport.

The IAEA chief said he was optimistic about the outcome of his visit to Iran. Soon after Mr. ElBaradei arrived, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed that the world must come to terms with the new ground realties in Iran. "Today, our situation has changed completely. We are a nuclear country and speak to others from the position of a nuclear country," the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Thursday quoted him as saying. "We won't hold talks with anyone about the right of the Iranian nation [to enrich uranium]." He had declared on Tuesday that Iran had successfully produced enriched uranium for the first time, but stressed that his country had no intention of producing nuclear weapons.

"Our answer to those who are angry about Iran achieving the full nuclear fuel cycle is just one phrase. We say: Be angry at us and die of this anger." Mr. ElBaradei said that he would try to persuade Iran to meet the demands for confidence-building measures, including suspension of uranium enrichment "until outstanding issues are clarified."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had telephoned Mr. ElBaradei before he emplaned for Teheran. The IAEA will on April 28 report to the U.N. Security Council on whether Iran has met its demand to halt all uranium enrichment activities.

Anticipating heavy international pressure, Iranian officials have begun airing ways to overcome the impasse. Iran's nuclear chief Gholamreza Aghazadeh said the U.S. had no option but to recognise Iran as a nuclear power. But he said Iran was ready for western participation in its enrichment facilities, to ease fears about diversion of nuclear material for weapons. "The best way to get out of this issue is for countries that have concern become our partners in Natanz in management, production and technology. This is a very important confidence-building measure," he told state-run television.

The Iranian former President, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, said in an interview to Al Hayat newspaper that the proposed talks between Iran and the U.S. over Iraq could be expanded to cover the nuclear issue as well. "We don't have a mandate to discuss the nuclear issue with the Americans ... but if the talks on Iraq go in the right direction, there might be a possibility for that issue."

Meanwhile, China was sending its nonproliferation expert to Iran and Russia in the light of the new situation. China's Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai was slated to leave on Friday. "Recently, there were some developments of the Iranian nuclear issue," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao. China and Russia have expressed strong concern over Iran's announcement on Tuesday, but have reiterated that they opposed punitive measures against Teheran.