By IANS
Vienna : Iran has received much-needed appreciation from the chief of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its constructive cooperation with the agency, Iran’s official news agency Irna reported.
“Our progress over the past two months has been made possible by an increased level of cooperation on the part of Iran, in accordance with the work plan,” Mahamed ElBaradei, director general of nuclear watchdog, said in address to the IAEA Board of Governors here Thursday.
ElBaradei said, “I advise Iran to be more proactive in providing information and in accelerating the pace of this cooperation.”
There has been good progress in connection with the verification of Iran’s past acquisition of P.1 and P.2 centrifuge enrichment technologies and the agency has concluded that the information Iran provided in that regard is consistent with IAEA’s own investigations, he said.
“However, as in all verification cases, the agency will continue to seek corroboration of this conclusion as we continue to verify the completeness of Iran’s declarations concerning its nuclear material and activities, and as we investigate the remaining outstanding issues,” he pointed out.
With regard to Iran’s current nuclear activities, the IAEA chief said, “We have been able to verify the non-diversion of all declared nuclear material. We also have in place a safeguards approach for the Natanz facility that enables us to credibly verify all enrichment activities there.”
ElBaradei, however, advised Iran to be more proactive in providing information and in accelerating the pace of this cooperation.
“I urge Iran to resume without delay the implementation of the additional protocol. The agency needs to have maximum clarity not only about Iran’s past program but, equally or more important, about the present,” he said.
“Naturally, as we go through our own investigation of Iran’s past and present nuclear programme, I continue to urge Iran to take all the confidence building measures called for by the Security Council, including the suspension of enrichment related activities,” he said.
This will be in the best interests of both Iran and the international community, and should facilitate the return by all parties to dialogue and negotiations, he underlined.
The earlier the negotiations are assumed, the better the prospects of defusing this crisis, ElBaradei said. It is only through such negotiations that a comprehensive and durable solution can be reached, and confidence in the future direction of Iran’s nuclear programme can be built, ElBaradei said.
IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei gave a complete report to IAEA Board of Governors on Iran’s cooperation with IAEA.
In his report, ElBaradei underlined that Iran’s report on P1 and P2 centrifuge enrichment technologies have been correct and transparent.
Both the IAEA and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana would table their reports in the UN Security Council this month-end for the world organisation to decide on its next step regarding Iran.