IAEA chief urges patience with Iran, warns against confrontations

AP via IHT ^ | October 4, 2007 | Staff

[Schnucki]

CAIRO, Egypt: The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency Mohamed ElBaradei urged the world to give Iran more time to prove its nuclear intentions are peaceful, warning in an interview published Thursday that attempts to isolate Tehran are boosting its hard-liners.

ElBaradei has come under sharp U.S. criticism over moves that Washington sees as appeasing Iran — particularly a deal he negotiated for Tehran to explain outstanding questions over its nuclear program.

He defended the strategy in an interview with the state-run Egyptian daily Al-Ahram as a test for Iran to "show good intentions."

"This situation, which might continue for two or three months, is an investment in peace," said ElBaradei, an Egyptian, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency.

He warned that the standoff between the West and Iran over the nuclear issue was adding "more fuel to a burning fire" in the Middle East. "The area is going through one of its worst moments and we cannot add more confrontations."

"In my opinion what we should do now is to encourage Iran to cooperate because any attempt to isolate Iran ... means the hard-liners will take over the driving seat," he said.

"Today, no one talks about Iran having a nuclear weapon. Even Western intelligence agencies say that Iran has the intention but needs three to eight years to get this weapon," he said.

The United States and its allies accuse Iran of secretly trying to develop a nuclear warhead, while Tehran insists its nuclear program is aimed only at generating electricity. Iran has refused U.N. demands that it suspend uranium enrichment, a key process that can be used in developing a bomb or the fuel for a reactor.

[Slapshot68]

Hey, I know, let’s wait until they nuke Israel before we discuss dismantling their program.

[rightwingextremist1776]

Lets seee....an Islamic nut job trying to talk us out of bombing another Islamic nut job back to pre-history.....Yea..............

[BillyBonebrake]

He’s on two payrolls.

[Slapshot68]

“The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency Mohamed ElBaradei urged the world to give Iran more time to prove its nuclear intentions are peaceful, warning in an interview published Thursday that attempts to isolate Tehran are boosting its hard-liners.”

That sounds a lot like the liberal mantra of “Bush created terrorists.”

Oh my, you can’t press an issue you might OFFEND someone. Holy crap, we’re not talking about a mere debate on trade or something, we’re talking about nuclear weapons.

[From One - Many]

iran is toast as soon as iran goes into the toaster. crispy critter time...for the mullahs and amadinnerjacket

[Diogenesis]

He should know. El Baradei’s sister is married
to a Mullah of Iran. Let’s trust him. /s

[Abathar]

"Mohamed ElBaradei"

Sorry, but I don't think it is in our best interest to listen to anyone with the name of "Mohamed" when it comes to possible warring with an Islamic country.

[agrace]

He should know. El Baradei’s sister is married to a Mullah of Iran. Let’s trust him. /s

REALLY?!

[steel_resolve]

El Baredi: "Yes, yes, Iran is most likely running a clandestine nuclear program and is arming extremists in Iraq to kill your forces and is arming terrorist proxies around the middle east and is buying large amounts of arms from China and Russia and is helping Syria with their Chemical and Biological weapons programs and calls for the destruction of Israel and is nothing b ut trouble at the UN and aligns itself with ideolgical soulmates like Venezuela BUT let's not get hasty and do anything about it. THEY, I MEAN WE NEED MORE TIME."

Patience, you asshole, is soemthing the US has run out of. This has to end - preferrably with Iranian military and nuclear programs in smoking ruins - BUT IT HAS TO END.