Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are scheduled to start talks in Tehran today on nuclear transparency measures Iran has undertaken to implement as part of its cooperation agreement with the UN nuclear agency.
The spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran told IRNA on Monday that Iranian and IAEA experts will hold discussions on the two remaining practical steps out of the five transparency measures Iran agreed in May to carry out until August 25 under the framework accord on further cooperation it signed with the IAEA last November.
"The visit of IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards Tero Varjoranta heading a IAEA delegation is aimed at holding talks on and finalizing the two remaining issues under the third phase of the implementation of the (framework) agreement between Iran and the agency," Behrouz Kamalvandi said.
In addition, he said Iran had implemented 13 practical measures, including providing information about its nuclear research and activities and granting access to its nuclear sites, in the first and second phases of the implementation of the cooperation agreement with the UN nuclear watchdog.
Early last month, the IAEA said Iran had failed to answer questions by the August 25 target date about two areas of its investigation into what it calls possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program- alleged experiments on explosives that could be used for an atomic device and also alleged studies related to calculating nuclear explosive yields.
Iran says that it has started addressing the two remaining issues and that the target date was not met due to the "complexity" of the issues.
Tehran denies the allegation that it may have been seeking to develop the capability to build nuclear weapons and says its nuclear work is only meant for peaceful purposes, such as electricity generation and medical applications.
Iran-IAEA cooperation is separate, but closely linked to, nuclear talks between Tehran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany).
Western officials say Iran should step up cooperation with the IAEA if it wants to reach a broader diplomatic deal with the major powers that would end a decade-old dispute over its nuclear program and lift financial and other sanctions on the country.
Tehran has increased its cooperation with the IAEA to ease concerns over its nuclear activities since Hassan Rouhani became president last year on a platform to improve the country’s international relations.
Iran and the six major powers failed to meet a July 20 target date to build on the interim nuclear deal they reached in Geneva last November to work out a long-term settlement to the nuclear dispute. They agreed to extend the talks on a final comprehensive deal and continue implementing the Geneva agreement until November 24. The talks are expected to resume in coming weeks.
