Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei says the world should not hype the issue of Iran's nuclear enrichment.
In an interview with CNN on Monday, ElBaradei ruled out the contention that Iranian nuclear activities pose an immediate threat to stability, saying "there is ample time to engage the country."
"There is a concern, but don't hype the concern," ElBaradei said, referring mainly to US and Israeli warnings against Iran over its nuclear program.
Citing Japan, Brazil and Argentina, ElBaradei said "Many other countries are enriching uranium and the world is not making a fuss about it. So why are we making a fuss about Iran and its nuclear enrichment."
He added that concerns surrounding Iranian nuclear activities stem from claims that Tehran is dangerous, suggesting that such contentions are not based in reality.
"They (the Iranians) have been called 'Axis of Evil', there has been money allocated for regime change in the country, they are surrounded by nuclear-armed countries and American troops. so put yourself in their shoes," he explained.
When asked to make a suggestion for a thaw in Iran-US relations, the IAEA boss referred to a plot by the Eisenhower administration that overthrew the democratically-elected government of Iranian prime minister Mohammed Mosaddeq in order to re-establish control over Iranian oil in 1953, and said Tehran and Washington "need to reconcile their grievances."
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