IAEA chief says Iran talks at dead end

IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said that his investigation into intelligence reports indicating Iran researched ways to make nuclear bombs was at a dead end due to Iranian stonewalling. The Agency has continued to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran. However, there has been no movement on remaining issues of concern which need to be clarified for the Agency to verify the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme. It is now well over a year since the Agency was last able to engage Iran in discussions about these outstanding issues. We have effectively reached a dead end, unless Iran engages fully with us, he said. Iran's late declaration of the new facility reduces confidence in the absence of other nuclear facilities under construction in Iran which have not been declared to the Agency, ElBaradei said. Iran had previously assured the IAEA it was not concealing nuclear activity with potential weapons applications. Meanwhile, on a personal note, ElBaradei also took time on Thursday to bid farewell to the Agency and extend his gratitude. His 12 year term as director-general comes to a close at the end of November when Yukiya Amano will replace him.