TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini asked the IAEA board of governors on Sunday to be more realistic in issuing statements or making decisions about Iran’s nuclear issue.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation board of governors will meet today to assess the agreements reached between Tehran and the agency.
In an interview with reporters at his office on Friday IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei rebuffed the critics of a nuclear deal between Iran and the agency. He said the U.S. media are trying to undermine the agency’s professional job.
ElBaradei also called the criticism of the IAEA’s inspection plans “disingenuous”.
“In light of Mr. ElBaradei’s remarks and position and the results of cooperation between Iran and the agency and a documented report that the agency will present to the board of governors in this regard we hope that the decisions and statements that will be issued by the board to be more adaptive with existing realities,” Hosseini told a regular news briefing.
Hosseini said the Foreign Ministry has sent envoys to all board members to make lobbies about the IAEA meeting which starts Monday.
Hosseini praised ElBaradei’s remarks on Friday, saying the statements were aimed at defending the status of the agency.
“It is natural that Mr. ElBaradei defends the status of the agency and Iran’s recent cooperation with the body under his leadership.”
He said “political interferences” in Iran’s issue has turned a “purely legal and technical” issue into a political one.
Reviewing cooperation in case of new resolution
“Iran’s nuclear dossier should be returned to the agency and we continue this trend of cooperation and dialogue with the agency.”
However, the spokesman reiterated Iran’s position that Tehran will revise its current cooperation with the nuclear watchdog body if a new resolution is adopted against Iran at the Security Council.
Progress in Russia talks on nuclear plant
Hosseini said Iran's talks with Russia on the start-up of the Bushehr nuclear power plant are making progress.
Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani was quoted on Thursday as saying Iran had agreed a timetable with Russia for the inauguration of the power station.
""The process of our technical negotiations with Russia is suitably progressing,"" Hosseini noted. ""What is important, is the Russian officials' firm decision to complete the project.""
""We have to wait until the end of negotiations,"" he added, when asked about the different statements from Larijani and Atomstroiexport last week.
Russia has repeatedly delayed the plant which under a previous schedule was due to be started up in September 2007, citing missed payments. A Russian sub-contractor has since said there is no chance of it happening before autumn 2008