By Xinhua
Cairo : Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei warned against any showdown with Iran, noting cooperation is the best way to solve Iran’s disputed nuclear issue, Egypt’s Arabic newspapers al-Ahram reported on Thursday.
In an interview with the mass-circulated Egyptian newspaper published Thursday, ElBaradei said the Middle East has enough troubles to deal with, warning against any showdown with Iran.
Noting the matter is not just about Iran’s nuclear file but of the regional security, ElBaradei said the best way to find a solution to Iran’s nuclear issue is through more cooperation and the adoption of confidence building measures.
The international community should encourage Iran to cooperate with the IAEA to prove its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful since the West are worried about Iran’s nuclear intentions and its regional policies, said ElBaradei.
“We should give Iran a chance to prove it has a good intention or not,” said ElBaradei.
A solution can only be reached when all parties concerned, including the Arab countries, come together to the negotiating table to address the problems, he added.
In late September, ElBaradei said Iran does not currently pose an immediate threat to the international community and called for more efforts to push forward dialogue, saying that a delay in talks could result in negative consequences.
The United States has been seeking to impose tougher sanctions on Iran through the UN Security Council on the grounds that Tehran is developing a nuclear weapon program under the guise of a civilian-use program.
Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and voiced hope for talks to defuse the nuclear standoff.
Despite Iran’s constant clarification, the United States has never ruled out military action against the Islamic Republic’s suspicious nuclear targets.