Following three rounds of talks described as 'positive and harmonious' with the visiting IAEA delegation, the top nuclear negotiators announced that they would continue their talks within a month.

Iran's permanent representative at the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh has elaborated on the recent developments regarding the nuclear case in an exclusive interview with Press TV. Press TV: Can you give us more details about the new voluntary step taken by Iran to show its goodwill regarding the upcoming talks with the IAEA within a month? Soltanieh: We will be discussing a modality plan to deal with the outstanding nuclear issues within the next 60 days. The two days of positive and constructive discussions, which has also been conclusive in some areas, was the first step towards that direction. In the second round of discussions which will be in about two weeks - July 25 and 26 in Vienna - we are determined and we have always assured that our nuclear activities are peaceful, and we spare no effort to remove any ambiguities, if there are any. At the same time, we are not going to withdraw from our inalienable right enshrined in the NPT for peaceful uses of energy including enrichment. Therefore, these go side by side. We will continue our enrichment activities and will continue to cooperate with the IAEA. There have been some concerns expressed regarding some outstanding issues. Therefore, Iran has voluntarily made an initiative, although we are very disappointed and frustrated with the legally baseless solutions of the UN Security Council, we are ready to enter the discussion dealing with the outstanding issues which belong to the past which are beyond our legal obligations. Apart from that matter, during the intensive two-day discussion we had tangible results. We voluntarily accepted to permit the IAEA to visit the heavy water research reactor in Arak. We also discussed the necessity for more efficient inspections. We also welcomed having more organized inspections in Natanz and reached a mutual agreement that in one month technical experts from the IAEA and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran should have discussions on the two documents, which is a safeguard approach and facilitates attachment of enrichment facilities in one month and this means from now on inspections will be more organized, well defined and their timetable and everything will be in the correct criterion which is defined in this safeguard approach. Press TV: Do you think that convincing the IAEA of the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program will persuade the international community to stop sanctions threading against Iran? Soltanieh: We have been always referring these issues in a very logical pragmatic manner. We have said that the resolution of the board of governors, the last one which referred this issue to the UNSC, and to be followed by the three resolutions of the UN do not have a legal basis. This is not a slogan. Unfortunately the time constraint does not permit to elaborate in details, but I will give you three main reasons supporting my assertion. The Article 12C of the statute, which says that only in the case of non-compliance will this issue be referred to the UNSC, but this should be recognized and informed by a report by the inspectors. And then the inspectors report to the Director General, and then the director General will report to the board of governors. This has never occurred. It means the inspectors have never used the phraseology of 'non-compliance' or 'diversion' by Iran. And therefore the few members of the board of governors, because of political motivations referred this issue and considered quote on quote 'non-compliance, the other issue according to statute and also as a safeguard agreement is if the agency reports that it is unable to verify the activities of Iran, like the case of North Korea for example, withdrawing from the NPT and stopping the inspections in that country. Then the IAEA reported that it is unable to continue its verification activities. This has not occurred in Iran; therefore, there has been no impedance or obstacles in the way of the IAEA inspectors; and this is another legal justification criterion which has not been fulfilled. Last but not least, if there is not any evidence of nuclear diversion of nuclear material and activities to permitted purposes. That is very clear that in all the reports of the Director General, that your viewers could just immediately after this interview go to the website, continuously and repetitively has said that they have found no evidence of diversion of nuclear activities, and this is of course a very clear and important matter. It is of course following 2000 man-day inspection. The most robust inspection in fact in the history of IAEA. The is not the result of a couple of days inspection. This is the result of four years of the most intrusive inspections. Therefore we are sure, and it is confirmed by the IAEA, all our activities are peaceful. Now regarding the past we are in fact expressing our willingness to discuss the modality in 60 days and deal with this issue in order to assure that these have been, are and will remain exclusively for peaceful purposes