The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran noted there is a "positive point" missed by the domestic media in a recent statement by International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano, who hinted the probe into Iran's past nuclear activities will not continue forever.
Referring to the statement Amano read at the beginning of a session of the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors on June 8, Kamalvandi said, "The statement had a very positive point which, in my opinion, was missed by the media."
"Amano suggested that dealing with Iran's past issues is not an endless process and demands a 'reasonable timeframe.' This is the first time they have made such a point."
This is because the media failed to carefully consider Amano's statement and regarded it as repetitive like his past reports on Iran, Kamalvandi was quoted by ISNA as telling reporters after the unveiling ceremony of the book "From Sa'adabad to Lausanne" in Tehran on Monday.
Iran is cooperating with the UN nuclear agency's investigation into what it calls possible military dimensions to Tehran's nuclear program.
Amano said in his statement that "I am confident that the clarification of issues with possible military dimensions is possible within a reasonable timeframe if Iran implements the measures envisaged in the Lausanne announcement."
He added, "Once the Agency has established an understanding of the whole picture concerning issues with possible military dimensions, I will report our assessment to the Board of Governor," according to a transcript of his remarks posted on the IAEA website.
The ongoing negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 (the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China) to resolve a 12-year dispute over Tehran's nuclear work led to an outline agreement which was announced in a joint statement released on April 2 in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
Under the agreement, the IAEA will be permitted the use of modern technologies and will have enhanced access through agreed procedures to clarify past and present issues relating to Iran's nuclear activities.
Iran and its international negotiating partners are now trying to work out the details of a final deal by an end-June deadline.
Asked whether the two sides are considering an extension of negotiations in the event of failure to conclude the deal by the deadline, Kamalvandi said, "We are working to achieve results by June 30."
"It is too soon to comment on the possibility of an extension."
***Incorrect Understanding
Elsewhere, he criticized domestic opponents for trying to portray the Additional Protocol as a "taboo" subject.
"Some are trying to paint the Additional Protocol as a taboo, (an assertion) which has no basis in fact," Kamalvandi said in his speech at the same ceremony, adding, "We are trying to promote an accurate understanding of the protocol, because the society has an incorrect understanding."
Iranian officials have ruled out inspection of nuclear sites as well as meetings with nuclear scientists for interview, which some parties to the nuclear talks have demanded by invoking the rather vague provisions of the protocol.
The Additional Protocol is a legal document granting the IAEA complementary inspection authority to that provided in underlying safeguards agreements. A principal aim is to enable the IAEA inspectorate to provide assurance about both declared and possible undeclared nuclear activities of a member state.
Under the protocol, the IAEA is granted expanded rights of access to information and sites.
Tehran voluntarily signed the Additional Protocol in December 2003 and remained committed to it for over two years, but suspended its implementation after the UN Security Council imposed nuclear-related sanctions on Iran.
