Russia's Proposal On Iran Nukes Lauded

U.N. Nuclear Chief Hopeful After Tehran's 'Positive' Response To Plan

(CBS/AP) 
As for Iran developing nuclear weapons, he said that if the country felt its security was threatened, "they would have the right to go nuclear."

The European Union on Thursday urged Iran to accept the Russian offer as a way to defuse the standoff with the international community.

"The Russians have made a very reasonable suggestion," Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said at a joint press conference with French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.

Because of concerns about Iran's nuclear intentions, ElBaradei said Thursday, "Iran probably needs to go through a rehabilitation period by which it will accept that it will not engage in enrichment on Iran territory while at the same time make sure that they get what they need for their own peaceful purpose."

"And that's why the Russian proposal is a very attractive proposal," he said.

At the moment, many people are trying to use "the maximum of diplomacy," he said.

The question being debated right now is whether to go to the Security Council at the beginning or end of February or this month, he said.

But even the Europeans and Americans, who want Iran referred to the council now, want the Security Council "to do a new phase of diplomacy," he said.

"Everybody's still talking about diplomacy and I'm very hopeful that as long as we talk about diplomacy, as long as we're not talking about enforcement measures, sanctions, et cetera, we are on the right track. But we need to accelerate the process," ElBaradei said.

Iran alleged Thursday it had information that the United States, Britain and Israel had a role in two deadly military plane crashes in the last two months.

It was the latest accusation by Tehran against the West in their sharpening confrontation. A day earlier, Iran blamed the United States and Britain for two bombings this week that killed at least nine people in southwestern Iran.

Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi said the crashes of a C-130 and a Falcon plane were "done by their design, or maybe electronic interference."

Pourmohammadi did not elaborate and did not offer any evidence.