Iran says talks with IAEA “positive”
Published: Friday, August 08, 2008
16:25GMT—12:25PM/EST
IAEA – IRAN – NUCLEAR – TALKS
Washington, 8 August (IranVNC)—The deputy chief of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization [IAEO], Mohammad Saeedi, said today that talks with his counterpart at the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Olli Heinonen, were “positive” and said talks will continue in the future.
Saeedi told the official IRNA news agency today: “In these talks, the current trend and relations between the IAEO and the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] were discussed in a positive atmosphere and with a mutual understanding.”
No other details of the talks, which began yesterday, were provided by the IAEA or Iranian officials.
IAEA deputy head Heinonen arrived in Tehran yesterday for talks that a source close to the IAEA told AFP would likely focus on clarifying outstanding questions the agency has about Iran’s nuclear program, including its alleged weaponization studies. Iran has dismissed in the past the allegations as “baseless”.
Saeedi also told IRNA: “It was agreed that talks between Iran and the Agency [IAEA] will continue in the future.”
According to the semi-official ISNA news agency, the two sides will meet again before IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei presents his latest report on Iran’s nuclear program in September to the IAEA Board of Governors.
ISNA reported that Iran’s envoy to the IAEA, Ali Reza Soltanieh, and “other Iranian officials”, participated in the talks. Heinonen is expected to leave Tehran tomorrow, the report says.
Heinonen last visited Iran on 28 April as part of the IAEA’s continued efforts to ensure that there is no military dimension to that country’s nuclear program. Iran insists its program is peaceful.
Sources: IRNA in Persian, ISNA in Persian, Agence France-Presse
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