U.S. outreach to Iran could aid IAEA probe: ElBaradei

[struggle4progress]

Source: Reuters

Mon Mar 2, 2009 7:51am EST

By Mark Heinrich and Sylvia Westall

VIENNA (Reuters) - A new U.S. readiness to engage Iran could help resolve suspicions about its nuclear work but Tehran must do more to "unblock this stalemated situation," the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief said on Monday. Mohamed ElBaradei made the remarks in an address kicking off a week-long meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board of governors in Vienna, the first since U.S. President Barack Obama took office on January 20 ...

Obama has signaled a readiness to talk to Iran, Syria and other U.S. foes without preconditions after years of unfruitful isolation policy by George W. Bush, but concrete steps await the outcome of a foreign policy review in about a month.

Still, Washington's return under Obama to support for multilateral cooperation to address frozen conflicts has been greeted with relief in the IAEA and by many of its governors, and ElBaradei's remarks touched on that.

"I am hopeful that the apparent fresh approach by the international community to dialogue with Iran will give new impetus to the efforts to resolve this long-standing issue in a way that provides the required assurances about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, while assuring Iran of its right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," he said ...

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5212JJ20090302

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Chief nuke inspector chides Iran, Syria
The Associated Press
Published: March 2, 2009

... Syria came into the nuclear spotlight in 2007 after Israeli jets bombed a site that Washington says was a nearly built nuclear reactor. Samples taken from the targeted building have revealed traces of man-made uranium, and the agency is also following up on suspected Syrian purchases of materials that could be used for nuclear purposes.

ElBaradei urged both nations to show increased cooperation, in comments to the opening session of the IAEA's 35-nation board.

Unless Iran opens up its nuclear activities to greater agency examination, the IAEA "will not be in a position to provide credible assurances about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities," he said ...

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/02/europe/EU-Nuclear-Iran-Syria.php



Clinton doubtful Iran will respond to US diplomacy

By ROBERT BURNS – 30 minutes ago

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton expressed doubt Monday that Iran would respond to the Obama administration's expressions of interest in engaging Tehran on nuclear and other issues, a senior State Department official said.

Clinton made the statement in a private meeting with the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, who had expressed to Clinton a concern among Persian Gulf nations that Obama might make a deal with Iran without full consultation with U.S. allies. The official who described the exchange spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private ...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gv3n-hMLXrcZm_u3_15KvVMkMjQQD96LULVO1