Iran, First To Propose Dispatch Of IAEA Team: Soltanieh

Vienna, Nov 19, IRNA – The Islamic Republic of Iran's permanent representative at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh said on Friday that it was Iran that first proposed dispatch of an IAEA team to inspect its nuclear facilities. 'I told Amano that it was not you who first proposed dispatch of a team of experts to Iran, but the Iranian vice-president and head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization in a letter to US proposed the same. It was you who did not publish the proposals by Iranian officials,' Soltanieh told IRNA in an exclusive interview. He pointed out that when he handed over a letter by Iranian vice-president to IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano, he was in Washington at that time, but in a message he voiced his opposition to dispatch of IAEA team of experts to Iran. 'This shows that Amano is under pressure. We hope that he will compensate for his mistakes in the future and act in an impartial and professional manner,' Soltanieh added./end