WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- An Iranian opposition leader says the atomic watchdog's failure to refer the case to the U.N. Security Council may encourage Iran to pursue its nuclear ambition.
"The International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors' reluctance to refer Iran's file to the United Nations Security Council has in fact emboldened the Iranian regime to further limit its cooperation with the IAEA, while asking for increased concessions from the international community," said Alireza Jafarzadeh, a former representative of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq.
The MeK is opposed to the theocracy ruling Tehran, but has been placed on the U.S. terror watch list.
"For the United States to even consider offering more carrots is a very bad idea, because it sends a wrong signal to the Iranian ayatollahs that they can still play the international community like a violin," Jafarzadeh said.
"Considering the intense race against the nuclear clock, Iran must not be allowed to buy time to get the capability to make the bomb.
"It is time for the United States to pressure its European allies to take a unified stance to refer Iran's file to the United Nations Security Council rather than offering carrots. The missing element is sticks, not carrots."
