Iran, IAEA Agree on Coop Roadmap: Iranian Nuclear Chief
Local Editor
Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have agreed on a road map for more cooperation, Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said.
In a joint press conference with IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano on Monday in Tehran, Salehi who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said Tehran and the agency had signed a joint statement in this regard.
"This joint statement outlines a road map that clarifies bilateral cooperation on the outstanding issues," Salehi pointed out.
The AEOI chief said the statement included an annex with six articles, adding that Tehran's cooperation with the IAEA was within the framework of the Safeguards Agreement.
Salehi underlined that Iran will, on a voluntary basis, allow IAEA inspectors to visit the Arak heavy water plant and the Gachin mine in Bandar Abbas, in southern Iran, despite the fact that Tehran is under no such obligation to do so under the Safeguards Agreement. Uranium mining operations at Gachin, started in 2004.
Iran's decision to allow the inspectors to visit the sites is aimed at proving the country's determination and readiness to resolve the "fabricated nuclear case," Salehi added.
He noted Tehran is ready to be more flexible on the issue and will not allow others to find a pretext to impede the progress of the talks.
Amano, for his part, described the signing of the joint statement as "an important step forward," adding that more work needed to be done.
"Under the framework of cooperation, Iran and the IAEA will cooperate further with respect to verification activities to be undertaken by the IAEA to resolve all present and past issues," Amano said.
The IAEA chief said these "substantial measures" will be implemented in three months "starting today."
In relevant remarks on Sunday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Sayyed Abbas Araqchi underlined that Iran and the IAEA are due to consider a new framework for continued cooperation.
"The finalization of this new framework of cooperation is in the final stages," he told reporters in Tehran yesterday. Araqchi expressed the hope that the new framework of cooperation would be signed by the two sides during Amano's visit to Iran.
Amano arrived in Tehran earlier on Monday at Salehi's invitation to discuss further cooperation between Iran and the IAEA.
Source: Agencies
Comments
- Related News
