IAEA chief welcomes Iran-US direct talks

Vienna, Nov 12, IRNA - Director General of the UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei in Prague, the Czech Republic on Wednesday welcomed Iran-US direct talks.

ElBaradei said that the US President-elect Barack Obama's stated
readiness for dialogue with Iran without preconditions could make
Tehran more forthcoming with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"If there is a direct dialogue between the United States and Iran, I
think Iran will be more forthcoming with the agency," the IAEA chief
said.

"Political opening will also convince Iran to work with us to solve
remaining technical issues," ElBaradei told a news conference after
meeting Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.

"That political component of Iran issue requires in my view a direct
dialogue with Iran and that's why I am very encouraged by
President-elect Obama's statement that he is ready to engage Iran in a
direct dialogue without preconditions.

"I have a lot of hope if that is a new policy," ElBaradei added.


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