IAEA asks Iran, West to renegotiate nuclear row

     Vienna: The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed El Baradei, here today called on Iran and the West to return to negotiations in the row over Iran's controversial nuclear programme. Speaking at the start of IAEA meeting here today that could pave the way for UN Security Council action against Iran, El Baradei said he hoped a deal on Iran's uranium enrichment work could be reached during the coming week. El Baradei said the issue had serious implications for world peace, and urged both sides to continue negotiations. "It has to do with regional security, the whole Middle East regional security is very much at stake and escalation is not going to help," El Baradei said.

    Western powers believe Iran wants to develop nuclear arms, which it denies. Tehran insists it has the right to develop its nuclear sector to produce energy for civilian purposes. The board of governors of the IAEA is also scheduled to meet here later today to consider an IAEA report that says Iran is defying IAEA calls to halt uranium enrichment and to cooperate fully with agency inspectors. The issue is expected to come up tomorrow or on Wednesday, opening the door to possible UN Security Council action against Iran, the second-biggest producer after Saudi Arabia in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Meanwhile, world oil prices fell on Monday as the IAEA began its meeting that could lead to UN sanctions against major crude exporter Iran over its disputed nuclear ambitions. In London, the price of Brent North Sea crude for April delivery today dipped 30 cents to 63.80 Dollars per barrel after hitting a one-and-a-half month peak on Friday of 64.64 dollars. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April slid 30 cents to 63.37 Dollars per barrel in electronic deals on Friday, the best level since February 7. On Wednesday, the Organisation of the OPEC is likely to meet here to set crude output levels.

     It is reported that the IAEA board is expected to refer Iran to the UN Security Council which could impose economic and political sanctions on the Islamic republic. Iran said on Sunday that if it was reported to the council, it would resume full-scale uranium enrichment - which can lead either to material for civilian nuclear reactors or nuclear bomb components. The IAEA has demanded Iran suspend nuclear enrichment completely. Iran refuses, emphasising its sovereign right to continue the process under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Three years of negotiations between Iran and the European Union, and the latest round of talks between Moscow and Tehran, have brought no significant result. Iran resumed enrichment in January after a two-year hiatus. Russian and China - permanent members of the Security Council with the power of veto - have so far opposed imposing sanctions on Iran.

Left awaits India's stand on Iran's nuke plan

      New Delhi: Left parties, which extend outside support to the Manmohan Singh Government, said on Monday that they would react to New Delhi's stance on the Iran nuclear issue after the ongoing IAEA Board of Governor's meeting being held in Vienna. The IAEA board of governors is meeting in Vienna to weigh Iran's snub of calls to curb nuclear activity, opening the way for possible U.N. Security Council action. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament hours before the crucial meeting that India's stand at the IAEA would be guided by its security concerns. He assured Parliament that the sentiments of all parties would be taken care of. Dr. Singh warned that coercion would only vitiate peace in the region and all sides should work to arrive at a mutually acceptable compromise formula. Brinda Karat, a politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said the party would wait to see how the government votes in the IAEA. "Whatever he has said in his statement is in front of the world now. We will have to see whether the government will work under the pressure of America or it will work according to the unanimous decision taken by the parliament that is it is not in India's favour to go with US on Iran," she said. IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei will submit a report to the 35- nation meeting, saying Iran has largely ignored a resolution demanding that it take steps to defuse a crisis of confidence in its nuclear programme. ElBaradei's report is expected to be forwarded to the Security Council after the gathering as mandated by a board vote a month ago after three years of IAEA probes often parried by Tehran. At the last IAEA meeting in February, India voted against Iran sparking criticism that it acted under US pressure. India's Communists, who give crucial support to the ruling Congress-led federal coalition government and a regional Samajwadi Party had criticised the government for its vote against Iran, saying New Delhi deviated from its non-aligned foreign policy. Iran says its nuclear programme is designed only to generate electricity for a growing economy. But Tehran obscured sensitive aspects of nuclear work from the IAEA for 18 years until 2003 and has publicly called for Israel's destruction.

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