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Iran must come clean soon
or stand-off will 'backfire': ElBaradei
AFP
Wednesday October 03, 2007
Iran must provide key details on its nuclear programme
by late November or its unwillingness to work with the international
community will "backfire", the UN's nuclear chief said
in an interview published Wednesday.
Speaking to the Financial Times from Vienna, Mohamed ElBaradei
said that the two key issues that required clarification before
he delivered a report to the governing body of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) next month had to do with Iran's research
capabilities and its nuclear weaponisation capacity.
"I've told the Iranians: 'This is your litmus test. You
committed yourself to come clean. If you don't, nobody will be
able to come to your support'," the IAEA director said, referring
to a timetable agreed between Iran and the IAEA last month for
it to answer outstanding questions about its nuclear programme.
(Article continues below)
ElBaradei added that if Iran failed to adhere to the timetable,
which requires that he present the report on November 22, it would
"backfire in their face".
He said that the two major issues that needed to be resolved
were Iran's research and development capabilities regarding enrichment,
and its capacity to weaponise nuclear matierials.
"I would hope that by November we would have resolved these
two issues but I can't say how far we will go ... The key is to
show that Iran is acting with us in good faith, with good intentions,"
he told the business daily.
ElBaradei also defended the deal his agency struck with Iran
for the timetable, saying he had not gone beyond his brief, despite
reportedly infuriating several major Western powers.
"I was frankly very surprised and concerned that most of
the media was hoodwinked into repeating a myth that this was something
we had done on our own -- some kind of 'do it yourself diplomacy'."
The Security Council has already passed two resolutions imposing
sanctions against Tehran to punish its defiant refusal to heed
ultimatums to suspend sensitive uranium enrichment activities.
Iran vehemently rejects charges it is seeking a nuclear weapon,
saying the atomic drive is aimed solely at generating electricity
for a growing population.
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INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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