VIENNA, June 14 (UPI) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency says a new nuclear framework is needed to make nuclear weapons inaccessible to terrorists.
"With some 35-49 countries 'in the know', the margin of security under the current non-proliferation regime has become too slim for comfort," IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei said Wednesday.
The statement came a day after Western countries pushed for broad support on the need for Iran to freeze uranium enrichment, while nonaligned countries backed Tehran, saying all countries have the right to pursue a nuclear program for civilian use.
The IAEA said strengthening controls over access to uranium enrichment and plutonium separation would be the focus of a special event Sept. 19-20 at the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency's general conference in Vienna.
A nuclear "fuel bank" should be formed to guarantee the supply of fissile material of uranium enrichment and plutonium separation, essential ingredients for nuclear bombs, to civilian nuclear users, ElBaradei said in a statement.
The IAEA said its proposal would provide access to fuel at competitive market prices and remove the justification for countries to develop indigenous fuel cycle capabilities. It would also address current concerns about the dissemination of sensitive fuel cycle technologies. U.S. and Russia have said they are willing to make nuclear material available for a fuel bank, under such a scheme.
"By bringing multinational control to any operation that enriches uranium or separates plutonium, we can lower the risk of these materials being diverted to weapons." IAEA said.
In a separate opinion-piece in The Washington Post the same day, ElBaradei also said a global arms control framework that includes the three countries -- India, Israel and Pakistan -- outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty is needed.
