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| IAEA committed to working constructively with Rohani government: Amano |
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.jpg) TEHRAN – The UN nuclear chief said on Monday that the International Atomic Energy Agency was committed to working constructively with Hassan Rohani’s government to “resolve outstanding issues by diplomatic means,” according to Reuters.
Yukiya Amano was addressing a session of the UN agency’s 35-nation board, the first since Rohani took office as Iranian president in early August, raising optimism of progress in the nuclear dispute.
The director general of the IAEA also said, “It remains essential and urgent for Iran to engage with us on the substance of our concerns.”
Rohani, keen to secure a relaxation of harsh international sanctions on Iran, has signaled readiness to be more open about Iranian nuclear activities in return for the acceptance of Tehran’s right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
Iran says its nuclear energy program is for electricity generation and medical uses only, rejecting Western accusations it is covertly trying to develop the capability to make nuclear weapons.
Amano also claimed, “Iran is not providing the necessary cooperation to enable us to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities.”
In addition, he once again said that Iran should provide access to the Parchin military site, which is located southeast of Tehran.
The IAEA has called on Iran to sign and implement a structured approach document to resolve the outstanding issues and has stated that gaining access to the Parchin military site is a priority.
The UN nuclear watchdog has claimed that Iran might have been trying to sanitize the Parchin site of any incriminating evidence of explosive tests that would indicate efforts to design nuclear weapons.
Iran has dismissed the claim and has made it clear that access to the “conventional” military site would not be possible before an agreement is reached on the structured approach document.
Iran and the UN nuclear agency are scheduled to hold a new round of talks in Vienna on September 27.
Iran and the IAEA last met in May, without achieving a breakthrough that would allow the UN agency to resume further investigation into Iran’s nuclear program.
AM/PA
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