IAEA
asks Iran, West to renegotiate nuclear row
Vienna:
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),
Mohamed El Baradei, here today called on Iran and the West
to return to negotiations in the row over Iran's controversial
nuclear programme. Speaking at the start of IAEA meeting
here today that could pave the way for UN Security Council
action against Iran, El Baradei said he hoped a deal on
Iran's uranium enrichment work could be reached during the
coming week. El Baradei said the issue had serious implications
for world peace, and urged both sides to continue negotiations.
"It has to do with regional security, the whole Middle East
regional security is very much at stake and escalation is
not going to help," El Baradei said.
Western
powers believe Iran wants to develop nuclear arms, which
it denies. Tehran insists it has the right to develop its
nuclear sector to produce energy for civilian purposes.
The board of governors of the IAEA is also scheduled to
meet here later today to consider an IAEA report that says
Iran is defying IAEA calls to halt uranium enrichment and
to cooperate fully with agency inspectors. The issue is
expected to come up tomorrow or on Wednesday, opening the
door to possible UN Security Council action against Iran,
the second-biggest producer after Saudi Arabia in the Organisation
of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Meanwhile, world
oil prices fell on Monday as the IAEA began its meeting
that could lead to UN sanctions against major crude exporter
Iran over its disputed nuclear ambitions. In London, the
price of Brent North Sea crude for April delivery today
dipped 30 cents to 63.80 Dollars per barrel after hitting
a one-and-a-half month peak on Friday of 64.64 dollars.
New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery
in April slid 30 cents to 63.37 Dollars per barrel in electronic
deals on Friday, the best level since February 7. On Wednesday,
the Organisation of the OPEC is likely to meet here to set
crude output levels.
It is reported that the IAEA board is expected to refer
Iran to the UN Security Council which could impose economic
and political sanctions on the Islamic republic. Iran said
on Sunday that if it was reported to the council, it would
resume full-scale uranium enrichment - which can lead either
to material for civilian nuclear reactors or nuclear bomb
components. The IAEA has demanded Iran suspend nuclear enrichment
completely. Iran refuses, emphasising its sovereign right
to continue the process under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Three years of negotiations between Iran and the European
Union, and the latest round of talks between Moscow and
Tehran, have brought no significant result. Iran resumed
enrichment in January after a two-year hiatus. Russian and
China - permanent members of the Security Council with the
power of veto - have so far opposed imposing sanctions on
Iran.
Left
awaits India's stand on Iran's nuke plan
New
Delhi: Left parties, which extend outside support to
the Manmohan Singh Government, said on Monday that they
would react to New Delhi's stance on the Iran nuclear issue
after the ongoing IAEA Board of Governor's meeting being
held in Vienna. The IAEA board of governors is meeting in
Vienna to weigh Iran's snub of calls to curb nuclear activity,
opening the way for possible U.N. Security Council action.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament hours before
the crucial meeting that India's stand at the IAEA would
be guided by its security concerns. He assured Parliament
that the sentiments of all parties would be taken care of.
Dr. Singh warned that coercion would only vitiate peace
in the region and all sides should work to arrive at a mutually
acceptable compromise formula. Brinda Karat, a politburo
member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said the
party would wait to see how the government votes in the
IAEA. "Whatever he has said in his statement is in front
of the world now. We will have to see whether the government
will work under the pressure of America or it will work
according to the unanimous decision taken by the parliament
that is it is not in India's favour to go with US on Iran,"
she said. IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei will submit a report
to the 35- nation meeting, saying Iran has largely ignored
a resolution demanding that it take steps to defuse a crisis
of confidence in its nuclear programme. ElBaradei's report
is expected to be forwarded to the Security Council after
the gathering as mandated by a board vote a month ago after
three years of IAEA probes often parried by Tehran. At the
last IAEA meeting in February, India voted against Iran
sparking criticism that it acted under US pressure. India's
Communists, who give crucial support to the ruling Congress-led
federal coalition government and a regional Samajwadi Party
had criticised the government for its vote against Iran,
saying New Delhi deviated from its non-aligned foreign policy.
Iran says its nuclear programme is designed only to generate
electricity for a growing economy. But Tehran obscured sensitive
aspects of nuclear work from the IAEA for 18 years until
2003 and has publicly called for Israel's destruction.
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