UN atomic watchdog head to visit Iran as talks extended
Ahead of latest deadline, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano to meet Rouhani in bid to accelerate talks and clarify possible military dimensions
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The UN atomic watchdog confirmed its chief was heading Wednesday to Tehran for talks on a stalled nuclear bomb probe, a key sticking point in talks between Iran and major powers.
The aim of International Atomic Energy Agency head Yukiya Amano’s talks on Thursday is to “accelerate the resolution of all outstanding issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, including clarification of possible military dimensions,” the IAEA said.
Amano will meet President Hassan Rouhani and other senior Iranian officials, the IAEA said in a statement.
The IAEA keeps close tabs on Iran’s declared nuclear activities, making sure that all nuclear material is accounted for and that its facilities are being used for exclusively peaceful purposes.
But it also wants to probe allegations that before 2003 and perhaps since, Iran’s nuclear program had “possible military dimensions” — in other words, that it conducted nuclear weapons research.
Iran rejects the allegations and says its program is peaceful and has always been so. An IAEA probe has been practically stalled since mid-2014.
The P5+1 group — the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany — say that clearing up the allegations is key to agreeing a wider accord curbing Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
On Tuesday Iran and the P5+1 extended their deadline until July 7 to agree a deal in talks in Vienna.
The Times of Israel Community.