IAEA board urges Iran to clarify nuclear program nature

VIENNA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-member board has expressed hope that Iran can actively engage in dialogue to clarify the nature of its controversial nuclear program.

Continuous uranium enrichment has moved Iran closer to a dangerous situation, the chief U.S. envoy to the IAEA Glyn Davies said at the five-day board meeting, which ended on Thursday, one day ahead of schedule.

"We have serious concerns that Iran is deliberately attempting, at a minimum, to preserve a nuclear weapons option," Davies said.

Davies also warned that Tehran was either very near or already in possession of sufficient low-enriched uranium to produce a nuclear bomb, if the decision were made to further enrich it to weapons-grade.

Davies noted that the latest IAEA report on Iran ascertained that Iran now had at least 1,430 kg of low-enriched uranium.

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said experience showed that dialogue was "the only way" to solve the Iranian nuclear issue, and sanctions did not help.

The problem would be resolved only if countries could talk to each other, ElBaradei added

The Russian representative, Grigory Berdennikov, also urged Iran to implement the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and ensure effective cooperation with the IAEA.

China's representative Hu Xiaodi also supported a peaceful solution, saying it would "serve the interests of all parties" as the Iranian nuclear issue involved the effectiveness of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, the NTP signatory countries' right on peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and regional peace and stability.

As Iran had said it would put forward a new package for negotiation and the UN group dealing with the issue had also reaffirmed their determination to negotiate a resolution, "there still exists an opportunity for a negotiated settlement to the Iranian nuclear issue," he said.

Ali Asghar Soltanieh, the Iranian ambassador to the IAEA, reaffirmed in the meeting that the Iranian nuclear program was only for peaceful purposes. Iran would not give up the right on peaceful use of nuclear energy, nor cease its cooperation with IAEA.

U.S. President Barak Obama and European allies have said that, if negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue are unable to make progress by the end of September, Iran may face tougher sanctions.