Vienna/Tehran - International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei reacted sceptically to Iran's counterproposals on a multinational nuclear fuel deal on Wednesday and indicated he does not see a need to change the agreement drafted by the IAEA. Reacting to the idea voiced by leaders in Tehran to directly swap Iranian uranium for foreign-made nuclear fuel, ElBaradei stuck to his concept that Iran should ship its nuclear material out of the country first.
"I don't think that is an option, because the whole purpose of the deal is to defuse the crisis," he told reporters in Vienna.
Under the IAEA proposal, the period in which Iran would have to wait while Russia and France produce the fuel for the medical-purpose reactor in Tehran would open a window of opportunity of international talks with Iran.
Responding to Iranian calls for more guarantees to make sure the country really receives the fuel, ElBaradei said: "I don't see, frankly, what additional guarantees we can provide."
But he said he was open to hearing from Tehran what guarantees Iran has in mind, in addition to the ones provided by the IAEA, Russia and the United States.
ElBaradei spoke to reporters after meeting German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who said his country is "ready for talks and a solution through dialogue, but Iran also has to know that our patience is not unlimited."
Westerwelle said earlier Wednesday that new sanctions against Iran would be necessary in case the Islamic state does not come around in the nuclear dispute.
The US, France and other Western countries have given Iran until the end of the year to cooperate better with the IAEA in clearing up open questions about its nuclear programme, and to enter into negotiations with world powers.
Iran has so far not officially replied to the proposed nuclear agreement, and Iranian politicians have been sending mixed signals.
In Tehran, Iran's parliament speaker accused the US of trying to trick his country with the nuclear fuel deal.
"The Americans sometimes pretend to talk about reconciliation, sometimes they smile but they always hide a dagger behind their backs," Ali Larijani said.
ElBaradei said it was unfortunate that the deal was being blocked in Iran because of domestic political differences, calling the draft agreement an "golden opportunity" that Iran should take up.
"Of course I would like to leave office with Iran and the international community engaged in a dialogue," the outgoing IAEA director general said.
The Egyptian diplomat will retire at the end of the month and hand over the post as IAEA head to Yukiya Amano of Japan.
ElBaradei spoke ahead of an meeting of the IAEA governing board starting Thursday, at which Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US aim to seek approval of a resolution that would express deep concern over a recently revealed new nuclear site in Iran.
