ElBaradei urges compromise in Iran nuclear row

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general
of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, on Thursday welcomed the U.N.
Security Council’s holding off from imposing sanctions on Iran
over its nuclear programme.

At a news conference in Amsterdam, the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) chief urged compromise on both sides of
the dispute.

“The only solution to the Iran situation is a comprehensive
package through dialogue, through negotiation. The more we can
go back to the negotiating table, the more we can address
grievances from both sides,” he said.

“It is very good that the Security Council holds its
horses,” he said, adding: “I am very optimistic, I hope both
sides will move away from the war of words, I hope the pitch
will go down … we need compromises from both sides.”

Washington and its European allies have been seeking a U.N.
Security Council resolution that would oblige Iran to halt all
uranium enrichment work or face possible sanctions.

But the drive for a resolution slowed this week as
Washington agreed to first let Europeans devise a package of
benefits to induce Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions and
sanctions if it does not.

Tehran says it only wants to produce low-grade enriched
uranium to use in atomic power reactors, not the highly
enriched uranium needed to make bombs.