Iran, IAEA hold nuclear talks in Vienna
(MNA) - Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency met at the office of the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic mission to international organizations in Vienna on Monday to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program.
The talks are scheduled to continue on Tuesday, May 15. The negotiations are held ahead of a new round of talks between Tehran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany), which is scheduled to be held in Baghdad on May 23.
Before the meeting, the IAEA deputy director general and head of the Department of Safeguards, Herman Nackaerts, told reporters in Vienna on Monday, “The aim of our two days (of talks) is to reach agreement on an approach to resolve all outstanding issues with Iran.”
“In particular, clarification of the possible military dimensions remains our priority… It is important now that we can engage on the substance of these issues and that Iran let us have access to people, documents, information, and sites,” he added.
Iranian and IAEA officials made no comments after the talks.
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said on May 4 that gaining access to the Parchin military site, which is located southeast of Tehran, will be the priority for the UN nuclear watchdog when it resumes talks with Tehran.
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.
The Vienna negotiations are meant to set a framework for further cooperation between Tehran and the agency.