In an interview with CNN among other international media in Davos 26 January, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei called for a "timeout regarding the Iranian nuclear issue", saying he hoped talks could resume on the matter. He said the timeout would apply to both Iran´s nuclear programme and the UN Security Council sanctions that took effect last month.
"I call on all parties to take a simultaneous timeout," Dr. ElBaradei said. "Iran should take a timeout from its enrichment activity, the international community a timeout from the application of sanctions, and parties should go immediately to the negotiating table."
Dr. ElBaradei said he hoped to be able to report positively to the Agency´s Board of Governors on the implementation of nuclear safeguards in Iran. The Board meets on Iran and other topics at sessions beginning 5 March at IAEA headquarters in Vienna.
"I´d like to report we´re on the right track," he said in the CNN interview. "The right track is dialogue, negotiation... The key to the Iranian issue is a direct engagement between Iran and the US."
See Story Resources for a link to the full interview and story on CNN.