BEIRUT, Lebanon — The head of the United Nations nuclear oversight agency said Monday that his organization was in a “stalemate” with Iran over its suspected nuclear program, just after the Iranian president affirmed once again that his country would not stop uranium enrichment or negotiate over its nuclear rights.
Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the group’s 35-nation board that Iran had not stopped enriching uranium or answered lingering questions about its nuclear program. He urged Iran to “substantively re-engage” with the nuclear agency, and to “respond positively to the recent U.S. initiative” on a dialogue about nuclear issues.
President Obama and his European allies have given Iran until the end of September to
respond to an offer of nuclear talks with the “five plus one” group of permanent United Nations Security Council members and Germany. If Iran refuses, it could face harsher sanctions.
“We will continue our work in the framework of global regulations and in close cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency,” said Mr. Ahmadinejad, who won a second term after a disputed election in June that set off widespread protests and the worst internal unrest Iran has seen in decades.
But Mr. Ahmadinejad also made clear that Iran expects a “change of approach” from the other side, and it was not even clear whether nuclear issues would be on t… >>>
