IAEA chief: Iran investigation at 'dead end'

[TomCADem]

Source: Associated Press

VIENNA -- The outgoing head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Thursday his probe of Iran's nuclear program is at "a dead end" and that trust in Tehran's credibility is shrinking after its belated revelation that it was secretly building a nuclear facility.

Mohamed ElBaradei's blunt criticism of the Islamic Republic - four days before he leaves office - was notable in representing a broad convergence with Washington's opinion, which for years was critical of the IAEA chief for what it perceived as his softness on Iran.

Iran also came in for censure from another quarter at the opening session of the IAEA's 35-nation board, with the introduction of a resolution taking Tehran to task on a broad range of issues linked to international concerns that it may be seeking to make nuclear weapons. Significantly, diplomats at the meeting said the resolution was endorsed not only by Western powers - the U.S., Britain, France and Germany - but also by Russia and China.

For strategic and economic reasons, Moscow and Beijing have sided with Tehran in the past. They have prevented several Western attempts to slap new U.N. sanctions on Iran for its nuclear defiance or succeeded in watering down their severity.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/26/AR2009112601000.html?hpid=topnews

[Indenturedebtor]

1. Methinks that El Baradei was playing at policy

And not being entirely honest regarding Iran during his tenure. Otherwise why come out with this a few days after he left? Is it because the next person in his place will inevitably have the same opinion?

[demoleft]

2. IAEA passes resolution rebuking Iran over cover-up

VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. nuclear watchdog's governing body voted overwhelmingly on Friday to censure Iran for developing a uranium enrichment site in secret, and demanded it freeze the project immediately.

The resolution, passed by a 25-3 margin with six abstentions, was the first by the 35-nation governing board in almost four years. With rare Russian and Chinese backing, it sent a message of international exasperation with Iran's nuclear secrecy and defiance.

But it was unclear whether the measure, sponsored by six world powers, would translate into crucial Russian-Chinese support for painful sanctions that Western leaders may push for if Iran does not begin to dispel fears about its nuclear ambitions soon.

Most developing nations on the International Atomic Energy Agency board, who are in a bloc that includes Iran, opposed the move, saying it would be provocative and counterproductive. Iran warned it would undermine its relations with the IAEA.

[Imajika]

4. One of the 3 votes against was Venezuela..

Chavez is busy supporting his "brother" Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

[annabanana]

3. not. good.

The US hawks do not need any more reasons to ramp up hysteria..And if Iran truly is up to no good, their path isn't the best way to go.