Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) praised here Tuesday the Russian offer to enrich Iranian uranium in Russia.
ElBaradei was responding to questions after delivering a lecture in the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on "Reflections on Nuclear Challenges Today".
LONDON, Dec 6 (KUNA) -- Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) praised here Tuesday the Russian offer to enrich Iranian uranium in Russia.
ElBaradei was responding to questions after delivering a lecture in the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on "Reflections on Nuclear Challenges Today".
But ElBaradei qualified his response by saying it is up to the parties negotiating with Iran to discuss in detail the modalities of such an issue.
He was referring to the European Troika: Britain, France and Germany negotiations with Iran to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis.
"Iran has the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes", ElBaradei said.
He indicated that the international community should be convinced that the Russian offer would present the right solution.
ElBaradei described it as "a good starting point".
"Russia should be saluted for submitting such a proposal to resolve this difficult and complicated issue". Meanwhile, he called on Iran to continue suspending the enrichment of uranium as long as the negotiations with the three EU countries continue.
"There is no urgent need for them to enrich uranium and it is better for them to find a solution", the IAEA chief said.
In his remarks at the IISS, ElBaradei outlined the serious threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and in particular nuclear weapons.
There are three main features to the changing scene in the world regarding these threats, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the emergence of clandestine procurement networks in nuclear material and the sluggishness in nuclear disarmament, ElBaradei stated.
He warned that the control of access to sensitive nuclear technology has grown increasingly problematic in recent years as more countries have sought to master the nuclear fuel cycle.
ElBaradei stressed the importance in this regard of the IAEAs verification work in Iran as over the past three years the Agency has compiled a detailed picture of most aspects of Irans past and current nuclear programme.
But given that the programme was concealed for nearly 20 years and that a number of open questions remain, the Agency has asked that Iran provide additional transparency measures beyond the confines of the additional protocol which allows the IAEA inspectors to conduct surprise visits to sites in Iran without prior notification.
ElBaradei affirmed that these transparency measures are required by Iran to enable the Agency to resolve these questions and to provide the required assurance about the peaceful nature of Irans nuclear programme.
