Iran and west retreat from confrontation

Iran and the main western powers stepped back, 9 August 2005, from an immediate confrontation over Tehran's nuclear programme as George W. Bush, US president, welcomed a suggestion by Iran's new conservative president that negotiations should continue, even as work proceeded on reactivating a mothballed uranium facility. Meanwhile, in Vienna an emergency board meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), called on 9 August 2005, by the EU3 of France, Germany and the UK, heard calls for 'maximum restraint' by Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

United Kingdom: EU Presidency: Press Release, 9.8.05: Iran: Statement by the United Kingdom on behalf of the European Union at the IAEA Board of Governors http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20051107160006/http://www.eu2005.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1079980257734

IAEA: Press release, 9.8.05: IAEA Chief Briefs Press on Iran http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2005/dg_iran.html

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