By Xinhua
Tehran : Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Sunday that a latest report issued by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei on Iran’s nuclear activities has created a tough situation for the United States, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Mottaki, addressing the students of the University of Science and Technology, said the reports released by 16 U.S. intelligence agencies and ElBaradei have approved the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities and have left American officials empty-handed.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Friday Iran had clarified the majority of open issues in its nuclear programs, but the UN nuclear watchdog was still unable to give a definite verdict on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions as the progress is not enough.
The Untied States and other Western countries have accused Iran of using a civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons, a charge repeatedly denied by Tehran.
The UN Security Council has adopted two resolutions — one in December 2006 and the other in March 2007 — in attempts to force Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment activities and give up its controversial nuclear programs.
France, Britain and Germany formally introduced a draft resolution to the UN Security Council Thursday that calls for further sanctions against Iran over its refusal to suspend sensitive nuclear enrichment activities.
The United States, Russia, China, Britain and France and Germany will meet in Washington on Monday on Iran’s nuclear issue.
U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns confirmed Friday that officials from the six countries will discuss a proposed third UN Security Council resolution on Iran to punish its defiance over its nuclear programs.
The six countries have met for several times on the thorny issue but made no significant progress.
Iran has downplayed the effect of possible new sanctions, saying Tehran would show a “serious and logical reaction” if the UN Security Council issues a third resolution.