El Baradei in Tehran to discuss inspections at the Qom site
Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Iranian nuclear program and the sending of IAEA inspectors to the new site of Qom, the second after the Natanz to develop enriched uranium, are the aim of the visit and at the centre of talks between Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), due today in Iran and Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran Atomic Energy Agency.
The IAEA chief's visit follows a two-day summit in Geneva between the countries of the "5 +1" (United States, Russia, France, Great Britain, China plus Germany) and Iran. Paris has called the meeting "a step in the right direction," but adds that it will evaluate the results based on concrete actions of Iran. Russia has expressed "cautious optimism" on condition of an agreement.
ElBaradei and Saleh will discuss the date and terms of access for inspectors to the site of Qom, which the U.S. president Barack Obama wants "without conditions" and within two weeks. At the conclusion of the Geneva Summit, in addition, the parties have agreed to a new series of meetings scheduled in October.
Thus continues the work of international diplomacy aimed at defusing the Iranian nuclear threat, which analysts believe could be the last attempt to avert a possible conflict that would lead to serious repercussions throughout the Middle East region.
The U.S. Congress, meanwhile, promises "new sanctions" if the international talks show signs of uncertainty, the hard wing of the parliament is calling for fines to be already imposed, without awaiting the consent of the international community.
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