United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Tuesday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the specialized agency for dealing with technical aspects of Iran's nuclear program. He told reporters at United Nations Headquarters here that there ought to be no competition between the Security Council and the IAEA because as far as technical matters are concerned since the agency has the necessary expertise and should have the final decision on these matters and not be restricted in its authority by the Security Council."I hope that the Iranian nuclear program has not reached a dead end as apparently both Iran and the negotiating parties are willing to come to negotiations. Iran should heed recommendations of IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei to do more to persuade the international community that the country's nuclear program is for civilian purposes," Annan said.
Annan said that foreign ministers of four Western states will discuss the Iranian nuclear program in Berlin on Wednesday. The issue that is at stake is whether the authority to decide Iran's nuclear case should rightly rest with the Security Council or the IAEA.
Asked about his preference, Annan said that the Security Council has the right to study the case as it has been brought to its attention but that technical matters need the expertise of the IAEA for resolution.