Mohamed ElBaradei, the United Nations director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will leave the end of this month after serving 12 years in office. In an interview on CNN, ElBaradei spoke, with some hope and a touch of wistfulness, about what he would like to see happen before he leaves: An agreement with Iran about its nuclear program. Iran has always claimed that its nuclear program is purely for peaceful purposes, but it has never provided conclusive evidence that this is true. When ElBaradei’s examiners went in to examine an “underground nuclear site” which had been kept secret, they found nothing but a bunker to protect things. It is a “black hole.”

It would be a “wonderful exit” for him, ElBaradei said if Iran would cooperate on this latest agreement to ship out its low enriched uranium and get back fuel rods for a reactor that will produce medical supplies. But, he added, candidly, “we are dealing with 50 years of mistrust and Iraq is asking when we expect to ship it out and when would they get it back.”

His hope lies in the fact that “this is the first time I have seen a US president seriously engage Iran.” For three years, the US didn’t speak to Iran because it was perceived as part of the “axis of evil.” Yet detente between Iran and the West would help stabilize the Middle East. When Iran asked “Can we be sure we will get it back?” America guaranteed to sign a political resolution assuring Iran that it would. And Russia went along with the idea. ElBaradei urged Iran “Don’t miss this opportunity. It is an opportunity I have not seen before and it will not happen again.”

He went on to say that he thinks the US and Iran both understand the situation. “President Obama is really ready to negotiate.” And so apparently is President Ahmadinejad. President Obama needs Iran’s help to stabilize the Middle East. Iran needs to negotiate with other countries on a diplomatic level and cease being an isolated state. It could be a win-win situation for them both. But will it happen? There is still “distrust and animosity” according to ElBaradei. And Iran has been wracked with internal political turmoil since the last contested election. Many of its people, especially the youth, want change. They want to be a respected member of the global community. A youth movement, called the Green movement is challenging the authority  of the supreme leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei who makes the final decision on all government policies.

“I think that the US and Iran both understand the situation,” ElBaradei said earnestly. Part of his job has been carrying messages back and forth between the two governments. “They talk through me.” He is convinced that Obama, who has “risked his neck” for this agreement, is ready to negotiate. And President Ahmadinejad sees the advantages for Iran to have good diplomatic relations with the United States. But it is still under discussion.

The world’s threat, ElBaradei summed up, is not from individual states but from terrorists. Extremists who acquire nuclear power would feel no restraints about using it.

Sanctions have not worked in Iran. The country needs to engage in meaningful dialogue, to settle the issue.