Iran, IAEA to hold new talks on Friday

TEHRAN,Aug.23(MNA) – The Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog will hold a new round of talks on Friday. Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh also said that the talks will be held at the office of the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic mission to international organizations in Vienna. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the agency announced that its officials will meet with Iran on Friday in Vienna to discuss remaining “outstanding issues” surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program. The meeting will allow “further discussions on a structured approach to resolve outstanding issues relating to Iran’s nuclear program,” the statement said. IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards Herman Nackaerts and Assistant Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will participate in the talks, AFP quoted the agency as saying. The latest round of talks between Iran and the IAEA was held in Vienna on June 8 in an attempt to seal a framework deal on the arrangements for further investigation into Iran’s nuclear activities. The IAEA has said that gaining access to the Parchin military site in southeastern Tehran, where it claims explosives tests relevant for the development of nuclear bombs might have taken place, is a priority for the UN nuclear watchdog. Tehran rejected requests by the 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 a framework must be agreed on for any access or visit.