IAEA Head to Visit Iran to Meet Leaders

By GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press Writer
59 minutes ago



VIENNA, Austria - Shrugging off U.S. opposition, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency will go to Tehran next week in hopes of securing nuclear concessions from the Iranian leadership, diplomats and officials said Friday.

While the trip was meant to defuse tensions generated by fears Iran could be seeking atomic weapons, a partial success by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei could exacerbate differences among the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and derail U.S. hopes of firm action against Tehran.

Iran could commit to meet some Security Council requests while falling short of demands to freeze uranium enrichment, a possible pathway to nuclear arms.

That could placate Russia and China, which oppose tough anti-Iran moves, but fall short of full compliance sought by the United States, France and Britain. The five countries wield veto power as permanent Security Council members.

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