Russia: Iran Nuclear Agreement Close, Rouhani Calls for IAEA Impartiality

Local Editor

World powers and Tehran are close to a nuclear deal on and the marathon negotiations look set to be successfully concluded "in the coming days," Russia's top negotiator said Thursday.

Also Thursday, Iran took a firm position on two of the biggest demands of world powers in a final nuclear accord, rejecting any extraordinary inspection rules and threatening to ramp up enrichment of bomb-making material if the United States and other countries re-impose sanctions after the deal is in place.

Speaking to reporters in Vienna, a senior Iranian negotiator said the UN nuclear agency's standard rules governing access to government information, sites of interest and scientists should be sufficient to ensure that Iran's program is solely for peaceful purposes. Anything beyond that, he said, would be unfair.

"We should be realistic," said the Iranian official, who briefed journalists on condition he not be quoted by name. He also questioned the legitimacy of countries that don't accept the International Atomic Energy Agency's jurisdiction demanding that Iran be subject to tougher requirements than any other nation.
The official was referring to the Zionist entity.

Iran has committed to implementing the IAEA's "additional protocol" for inspections and monitoring as part of an accord.
For his part, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged the IAEA to play its proper role in the nuclear talks between Iran and the P+1 group without being influenced by world powers.

Rouhani made the remarks on Thursday in a meeting with IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, who has traveled to Tehran for talks with senior Iranian officials over ongoing cooperation between the Islamic Republic and the UN nuclear watchdog.

"The IAEA should play its proper role from technical and legal standpoints regardless of the views of the world powers at this juncture, when negotiations with the P5+1 are approaching their final stage," said the Iranian president.

Negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 group of countries - the United Sated, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany - are working to reach a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear program in the Austrian city of Vienna. The two sides have agreed to continue talks to strike a final deal by July 7.

Amano, for his part, appreciated the Islamic Republic's cooperation with the IAEA, saying that the country has always abided by its commitments.

Amano also referred to his talks with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, saying that through mutual respect and close cooperation all issues can be resolved.

He also expressed hope that a report, which the agency will release after his trip to Tehran, would help the successful trend of the nuclear talks.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team