Region | Iran
Cancellation of Iran talks dashes hopes of breakthrough
A meeting between a senior Iranian envoy and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency was abruptly cancelled yesterday and diplomats blamed Iran's refusal to make good on a promise to provide answers about past atomic activities.
- AP
- Published: 00:00 June 12, 2007
Vienna: A meeting between a senior Iranian envoy and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency was abruptly cancelled yesterday and diplomats blamed Iran's refusal to make good on a promise to provide answers about past atomic activities.
The meeting, between Javeed Vaidi of Iran and IAEA director-general Mohammad Al Baradei, had been billed as a test of Tehran's readiness to end years of stonewalling and provide answers on aspects of its nuclear programme that could be used to develop weapons.
But the talks were cancelled on short notice because of perceptions that Vaidi would bring 'nothing substantial' to that meeting and another with deputy IAEA director general Olli Heinonen, a diplomat said.
Along with Tehran's refusal to freeze uranium enrichment and restrictions on IAEA inspectors, Iranian stonewalling was also the focus of Al Baradei, in opening comments to a meeting of the agency's 35-nation board of governors.
Warning
The agency is unable "to make any progress in its efforts to resolve outstanding issues relevant to the nature and scope of Iran's nuclear programme," Al Baradei told delegates, describing the development as a "key proliferation concern." "Against the background of many years of undeclared activities, and taking into account the sensitivity of nuclear enrichment technology, it is incumbent on Iran to work urgently with the agency ... in order for the agency to be able to provide assurance regarding the exclusively peaceful nature of all of Iran's nuclear activities," Al Baradei said.
Vaidi did talk with EU negotiator Robert Cooper on a recent Iranian pledge to clear up past nuclear questions in talks at Austria's foreign ministry. Both men spoke of 'some progress' but warned against expecting 'miracles,' saying the purpose of their talks were to set up a future meeting between their superiors - Ali Larijani of Iran and the EU's Javier Solana.
Still, the cancellation of subsequent meetings with Al Baradei and Heinonen dashed hopes that the Iran was prepared for a breakthrough compromise on one of the issues that led to its referral last year to the UN Security Council.
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