Iran, IAEA hold talks to ‘bridge the gap’

TEHRAN,Aug.25(MNA) – Representatives from Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency held a new round of talks at the office of the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic mission to international organizations in Vienna on Friday. Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, the Iranian ambassador to the IAEA said, “We are expecting progress at this meeting,” AFP reported. “The fact that we are continuing these talks with the agency indicates that we are determined to move to a positive conclusion… Both sides are trying to bridge the gap,” Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh said, without elaborating. “I hope for success,” he added. Going into the meeting, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards Herman Nackaerts, told reporters that he wanted to “seek agreement on a structured approach to resolve all the outstanding issues.” “And of course we will also ask Iran where they are with their responses to our requests for access to Parchin and other questions that we have asked Iran.” 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. AP reported on Thursday that the UN nuclear agency was forming a special team on Iran.