WASHINGTON, March 18 (UPI) -- The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has called for a normalization of dialogue between the U.S. administration and Iran.
IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei told Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage that resolution of the mounting crisis over Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program might only be resolved by non-hostile dialogue, the Financial Times said Thursday.
"He is aware that Iran is open to talks on a broader package that would lead to the normalization of relations," a Washington source said.
ElBaradei's assessment of Iran's position is that Tehran views its nuclear program and support for militant groups as bargaining chips in a broader process of negotiating an end to the hostile relations that have existed between Iran and the United States since the 1979 revolution.
However, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said the administration already had a "clear policy" on Iran, which he said required the leadership in Tehran to stop development of weapons of mass destruction, stop supporting terrorism and stop meddling in the affairs of its neighbors.
