On December 1st the Egyptian Dr ElBaradei stepped down as head of the the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He is succeeded by Yukiya Amano, a quietly spoken Japanese diplomat. With the situation over Iran’s atomic ambitions becoming ever tenser, Mr Amano needs heavenly wisdom. For the first time in four years the IAEA passed a resolution against Iran on Friday (Nov 27th) for not immediately informing the agency about the enrichment plant being built near Qom. Iran’s response has been to announce that it will build ten more enrichment centres. Some news agencies report that Iran is even thinking of withdrawing from the IAEA. This is certainly a time for Mr Amano to exercise all his diplomatic skills. Pray for Yukiya Amano’s efforts to find a peaceful resolution Iran’s security fears to be allayed Israel’s security fears to be allayed