IAEA will hold more talks with Iran, Amano says

TEHRAN,Sept.18(MNA) – The International Atomic Energy Agency will hold further talks with Iran, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano announced in Vienna on Monday, Reuters reported. The UN nuclear watchdog is “firmly committed” to intensifying dialogue with Iran, Amano told the IAEA’s annual member state gathering. “We will continue negotiations with Iran on a structured approach to resolving all outstanding issues,” Amano added, noting, “I hope we can reach agreement without further delay, to be followed by immediate implementation,” he said. The IAEA has called on Iran to sign and implement a structured approach document to resolve the outstanding issues and has stated that gaining access to the Parchin military site, which is located southeast of Tehran, is a priority for the UN nuclear watchdog. The IAEA has claimed that Iran might have been trying to sanitize the Parchin site of any incriminating evidence of explosive tests that would indicate efforts to design nuclear weapons. However, Iran has dismissed the claim, calling it “baseless”. Tehran rejected requests by IAEA delegations to inspect the Parchin site during their visits to Iran from January 29 to 31 and February 21 to 22 and has made it clear that access to the site would not be possible before an agreement is reached on the structured approach document. The latest round of talks between Iran and the IAEA was held in Vienna on August 24.