ElBaradei sees progress with Iran nuclear probe
Reuters
November 1, 2005
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts - The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday the investigation into Iran's nuclear program was making progress and asked for patience from the international community before taking action. 
Mohamed ElBaradei, the director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, urged Iran to provide the transparency to assure other nations that its nuclear program is peaceful and not intended for developing atomic weapons.
Iran faces referral to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions after failing to allay international fears it is seeking to build nuclear warheads.
As long as we are making progress and as long as we don't see clear and present danger, let us continue at it ... before we take escalated measures, ElBaradei said at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Iran said earlier this week that it hoped to avoid being sent to the Security Council after handing over more documents and allowing further checks by U.N. inspectors.
ElBaradei said inspectors were gaining access to Iranian military facilities and urged the international community to exhaust all diplomatic avenues.
Tehran's nuclear policies were once again called into questions last week when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel should be wiped off the map.
Washington responded by saying the comments added to concerns about Iran's pursuit of nuclear arms.
Despite the unfortunate rhetoric, they are still cooperating with the agency, ElBaradei said.