Iran will continue to cooperate with IAEA: Iranian ambassador

TEHRAN, Feb. 26(MNA) -- Iran will continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s ambassador to the agency said on Friday. Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh made the remarks in an interview shortly after IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano’s latest report on Iran’s nuclear program was issued. The report, which addresses developments since the agency’s last report on November 8, 2011, was issued after two rounds of talks were held between Iranian and IAEA officials in Tehran from January 29 to 31 and February 21 to 22. Part of the report read, “The Director General calls upon Iran to cooperate fully with the Agency.” Ambassador Soltanieh said, “Regarding the continuation of talks, we will continue negotiations to once again prove to the world that certain countries’ claims are unfounded and that all our nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.” “(But) we will never relinquish our inalienable rights to the peaceful use of nuclear energy,” he added. He also said, “The agency’s report once again showed the peaceful nature of our country’s nuclear activities and successes in the field of science and nuclear technology.” “The report proves that all of our nuclear activities are under the supervision of the agency and that cooperation continues,” Soltanieh stated. Part of the IAEA report read that all the facilities that Iran has declared are “under Agency safeguards.” Agreement required for visit to Parchin Asked about the fact that Iran rejected the requests by the IAEA delegations to inspect the Parchin site, which is located southeast of Tehran, during their two recent visits, Soltanieh said, “It should be noted that a framework must be agreed on for any access or visit… Initial negotiations have been held about the framework and modality, but we have not reached an initial agreement yet, and it is necessary that negotiations continue.” He added that Iran is ready to continue negotiations to help establish such a framework, adding, “The Islamic Republic, as a country that is responsible and committed to international regulations, will continue its cooperation with the agency.” IAEA report should have remained confidential Commenting on the fact that the text of the report was leaked while it was supposed to remain confidential, he stated, “The director general’s reports can only be seen by the members and only on the agency’s website, but certain members release the reports to the media, and unfortunately, the agency’s reports usually leak out.”