ElBaradei Not to Bow to U.S. Pressure

Senior diplomats said International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei would not bow to pressure to be tougher on Iran to secure U.S. support for a third term, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, June 8).

“One of the reasons he’s been successful is because he has not pandered to any one country’s agenda or any group of countries’ agenda and always strives to maintain his impartiality,” an IAEA official said.

A second IAEA official said ElBaradei had made the decision to approve a critical report on Iran before being asked to by the United States.

Other diplomats believe ElBaradei might agree not to seek additional terms as IAEA director beyond his third in exchange for U.S. support.

ElBaradei is scheduled to speak with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her top nonproliferation deputy Robert Joseph today in Washington. An IAEA spokesman said ElBaradei’s third term “in all likelihood” would be discussed.

A Western diplomat said the Iraq issue would also be addressed (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, June 9).

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