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ElBaradei Warns Terrorists May Have Obtained Nuclear Weapon or Related Materials By Mike Nartker WASHINGTON — International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed ElBaradei has warned that he could not be certain that terrorists groups had not obtained a nuclear weapon, or the material necessary to create one (see GSN, Jan. 28). “I cross my fingers ... but I cannot say 100 percent that it hasn’t happened,” he said in an interview with the Washington Post posted Sunday on the agency’s Web site, referring to the likelihood that terrorists may have obtained a complete nuclear weapon. Terrorists may also have obtained former Soviet nuclear material, which for “a period of time” following the end of the Cold War “was not adequately protected,” ElBaradei told the Post during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “I hope nothing significant went to a terrorist group, but it would be irresponsible for me to exclude it,” he said. “If it were to happen, it would have disastrous consequences.” Earlier this month, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said that Russia had maintained tight control over its nuclear arsenal and stockpiles of weapon-grade materials — a claim that was challenged by nonproliferation experts (see GSN, Jan. 14). In his interview, ElBaradei commented extensively on the issue of Iran’s nuclear efforts, saying he was “proud” of the results his agency has achieved so far in resolving the crisis (see related GSN story, today). “Eighteen months ago, Iran was a black box — we didn’t know much about what was happening. Now, we have a fairly good picture of what is happening. We understand how complex and extensive that program is,” he said. ElBaradei also rejected recent suggestions of possible military action against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, saying such talk was “very unhelpful” (see related GSN story, today). “You might delay them, but they will rebuild it with the objective of having a weapon,” he said. Praising the efforts of several European nations to negotiate with Iran to resolve the nuclear issue, ElBaradei said the United States also needed to either participate along with the Europeans or engage directly with Tehran. “I don’t think you will get a permanent solution of the Iranian issue without full U.S. engagement,” he said. “The U.S. engages with North Korea so I don’t see why they can’t engage with Iran.” ElBaradei said the Iranian nuclear issue was one of several he hoped to resolve before leaving the U.N. nuclear watchdog, along with the nuclear crisis on Korean Peninsula and the investigation into the international nuclear network formerly headed by Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. The director general is hoping to extend his tenure for a third term this year and is running unopposed. While the Bush administration has opposed ElBaradei’s candidacy, it has reportedly been so far unsuccessful in its efforts to replace him (see GSN, Jan. 24). If re-elected, ElBaradei told the Post, he would stress his agency’s “impartial and independent” nature. “I will not compromise on this,” he said. In addition, ElBaradei reiterated the need to restrict the spread of nuclear fuel cycle technologies to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. “Any country which has a complete fuel cycle is a latent nuclear weapons country, in the sense that it is not far from making a nuclear weapon,” he said. ElBaradei and the Bush administration have each proposed differing approaches toward restricting the spread of nuclear technology. The Bush administration has proposed a ban on the export of enrichment and reprocessing technologies to nations that currently do not possess them. In a separate interview with the New York Times last week in Davos, ElBaradei fleshed out his proposal, which calls for a five-year moratorium on construction of uranium enrichment facilities. Countries instead could lease nuclear fuel from an international consortium. He told the Times that his proposal would probably have more international support by being applicable to all countries (see GSN, Jan. 7). “To get everybody to agree, it would have to be a moratorium,” ElBaradei was quoted as saying. “You would have a number of countries overseeing each other, to make sure there is no misuse of the system.” ElBaradei plans to present his plan during a Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty conference in May, according to the Times article.
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