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IAEA report confirms Iran’s commitment to interim deal

2 July 2015 12:41 (UTC+04:00)
IAEA report confirms Iran’s commitment to interim deal

By Sara Rajabova

While the nuclear negotiations are underway between the world powers and Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency has released a confidential report on Tehran’s nuclear program, attesting to Tehran’s commitment to what had already been agreed with the global powers.

The report, obtained by The Associated Press, was circulated among the 35-nation IAEA board and the United Nations Security Council on July 1, as IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano visited Tehran, Press TV reported.

Amano is in Tehran to hold negotiations with President Hassan Rouhani on the country’s nuclear program. As Iran has refused any interviews with its nuclear scientists, the IAEA is seeking to receive Iran’s proposals in this regard.

The IAEA report confirmed that, as of June 30, Iran’s low-enriched uranium stockpile was just below what had been agreed under a November 2013 interim deal reached between the Islamic Republic and the P5+1 - the United States, Britain, Russia, China, France, and Germany.

With the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group extended until July 7, the report could function as a benchmark for talks over a comprehensive nuclear deal between the two sides.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reaffirmed that progress has been made, IRNA reported.

Kerry met bilaterally on July 1 with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Zarif said the sides have made progress, noting they will use every opportunity to make reach an agreement.

The nuclear talks in Vienna have gone into overtime as all seven parties are inching towards a final comprehensive agreement.

Meanwhile, Iranian media quoted a source close to the Iranian nuclear negotiating team said the expert view of the nuclear deal draft has been completed.

The source said the draft agreement is to be approved by deputy foreign ministers and then be given over to the foreign ministers of the P5+1 group, IRIB news agency reported July 1.

Western sources have reported that French and Chinese foreign ministers Laurent Fabius and Wang Yi will travel to Vienna where the talks are held, on July 2.

Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, is also expected to join the talks.

Although there has been no news as to whether UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond will travel to Vienna, the Iranian and P5+1 countries' foreign ministers are scheduled to meet July 2.

The removal of sanctions against Iran and access to the country’s military sites seem to be the major issues of disagreement between the sides.

Iran and the P5+1reached framework nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2. The sides hoped to finalize a comprehensive nuclear deal by June 30, but they have decided to extend an interim nuclear agreement until July 7.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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