Head of the UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei has welcomed US President Barack Obama for seeking to open direct talks with Iran. "President Obama has said he is ready to speak to Iran without preconditions. This is the way to go. It is long overdue," ElBaradei said at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. He also said that previous US policy on Iran was a "total failure", urging the beginning of talks between both sides without any "preconditions".
Western countries accuse Tehran of working toward obtaining atomic bombs. Iran categorically rejects the allegations, insisting the country's nuclear facilities are regularly monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iran has also been urged to suspend its uranium enrichment activities in exchange for certain economic incentives. Iranian officials say they are open to talks but will not accept any precondition such as halting nuclear activities.
In an apparent shift from the Bush administration's policy on Iran, President Obama has promised to engage in direct dialogue with Iranian officials.
In a Monday interview, President Obama said that it was "important" to the new US administration "to be willing to talk to Iran".
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday responded to this message by welcoming the idea of change but said that the Obama administration should move to adopt "real change" rather than a mere shift in tactics.
ElBaradei also called on Iran to answer "technical questions" over its nuclear program to remove any misunderstanding.
Iran says it has answered all questions from the IAEA which has so far confirmed the country's non-diversion toward nuclear weapons program.
The UN nuclear watchdog, which is responsible for monitoring Iran's nuclear activities, inspects the country's facilities on a regular basis.
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