Israeli MP says Iran “buying time” in nuclear talks

Washington, 5 October (WashingtonTV)—Iran’s move to allow international inspectors into its newly revealed uranium enrichment plan is part of an effort to “buy time” in negotiations over its nuclear program, former Israeli defense minister, Shaul Mofaz, said on Monday.

Speaking to Israeli Army Radio, Mofaz also criticized Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA], calling him “an ostrich with his head stuck in the sand,” reports the Jerusalem Post.

On Sunday, ElBaradei said that IAEA inspectors would visit the new nuclear facility, near the city of Qom, on 25 October.

Speaking in Tehran, ElBaradei said that Iran’s confrontation with the West was shifting to cooperation and transparency, reports AFP.

Still, ElBaradei said that Tehran had been late in disclosing that it was building the new site near Qom, and said that he still had concerns about Iran’s future nuclear intentions.

Mofaz, a member of the Israeli parliament, said that he expected meaningful sanctions to be imposed against Tehran in 2010, with Russian and Chinese support.

On Thursday, Israeli Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom dismissed talks between six world powers and Iran as useless, saying Tehran would never abandon its alleged pursuit of nuclear arms.

Sources: Jerusalem Post, Agence France-Presse

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