IAEA general conference calls for peaceful solution on Iran nuclear issue

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei (R) listens to Iran's Vice President Reza Aghazadeh delivering a speech next during the 51st General Conference of the IAEA in Vienna September 17, 2007.

     Iran's nuclear issue could be settled through negotiation, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said here Monday.

    "I am convinced that the solution through negotiation could be achieved," she told the media during the ongoing 51st annual regular session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

 "The international community must continue to follow this way stubbornly and consistently," she said.

    As for the possibility of launching military action against Iran predicted recently by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Plassnik said that Kouchner was the only one who could answer this question with his own opinion, noting she could not understand why Kouchner used such warlike words.

    Meanwhile, IAEA Director-General Mohamed el Baradei again urged Iran to cooperate fully with the agency on its nuclear issues.

    During his speech at the conference, he said Iran cooperated with the IAEA and provided the supplementary information on its nuclear program.

    However, he said Iran did not obey the resolution of the United Nations Security Council on suspending its uranium enrichment activities and the construction of the heavy water reactor in Arak.

    Noting that Iran still needs to clarify some outstanding issues relating to its nuclear program, el Baradei said Iran's "complete transparency" on its nuclear issues should be the most important precondition for Iran-IAEA cooperation.

    If the agency could provide reliable assurance of the peaceful aim of Iran's nuclear program, it would be in favor of the complete and lasting solution to Iran's nuclear issue, he said.

    Iranian Vice President Reza Aqazadeh told the media during the conference that the West always chooses the "path of confrontation" instead of the path of "understanding and amity" towards Iran.

    Iran is "determined to continue its (nuclear) path to the highest point of advancement," he said, adding that the country has "no fear of the costs we may have to bear to achieve this."

    The five-day 51st regular session opened on Monday, gathering high-level delegates and representatives from the agency's 144 members.