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Iran Not Cooperating, but Israel undermining nuclear non-proliferation

IAEA Chief: Iran Not Cooperating By VOA News17 February 2009 The head of the United Nations’ nuclear agency says Iran is not helping resolve questions about any possible military aspect of its nuclear program.

IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said Tuesday in Paris that Tehran is not providing any access or clarification on the issue.  Western nations have accused Iran of working on nuclear programs in the past, as well as possibly continuing such efforts. The U.N. has placed Tehran under three sets of international sanctions for its nuclear work.  

Iran says its nuclear program is, and always has been, for peaceful, civilian purposes and argues that it cooperates with the IAEA.

ElBaradei’s comments come one day after he said that Israel’s refusal to sign the nuclear weapons non-proliferation treaty is undermining the treaty’s legitimacy in Arab public opinion.

Writing in the International Herald Tribune newspaper Monday, the IAEI chief said that Israel is the only state in the Middle East known to have nuclear weapons.

Israel has never confirmed or denied that it has nuclear weapons.  But ElBaradei says Israel’s position creates a perceived double standard. 

VOA News – IAEA Chief:  Iran Not Cooperating

February 18, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized