Iran, IAEA talks underway in Vienna on second day
By Sara Rajabova
Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resumed talks over the country's nuclear energy program in Vienna on October 29.
The first day of the two-day negotiations between the Iranian and IAEA delegations wrapped up on October 28.
After the first day of negotiation, Iran's ambassador to IAEA Reza Najafi said that the talks between Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog were "serious and progressive".
Najafi who is the head of the Iranian delegation said that issues of substance were discussed during the first day of the talks in Vienna.
IAEA Deputy Director General and head of the department of safeguards Herman Nackaerts leads the Agency's team in the negotiations.
Najafi also said that the "structural approach" adopted in the previous rounds of negotiations was not appropriate and that is why the talks lasted for two years.
Prior to Iran-IAEA negotiations, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano on October 28 and presented Iran's new proposals regarding its nuclear energy program.
Araqchi said Iran is keen to improve its cooperation with the agency, adding that Tehran has also expressed its readiness to "respond to all IAEA questions and ambiguities in a short period of time."
Amano, for his part, urged the IAEA and Iran to make "concrete progress" in their talks.
The IAEA hopes for progress such as on getting access to Iran's nuclear sites, allowing its international inspectors to investigate what it calls the "possible military dimensions" of Iran's atomic activities. Tehran says it is enriching uranium solely for electricity generation and medical treatment.
The last round of talks between Iran and the IAEA was held on September 27, after which Nackaerts hailed the meeting as "very constructive."
Taking advantage of the diplomatic opening enabled by Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Iran and the six world powers (P5+1) are pursuing separate negotiations towards a broader political settlement of the nuclear dispute.
Iran and the six world powers held two days of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear energy program behind closed doors in Geneva on October 15-16.
The two sides agreed to meet again in Geneva on November 7-8 after the expert-level meeting, which is scheduled to take place on October 30-31.
The U.S. and some of its allies suspect that Tehran's nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons capability, but Iran insists it is purely for peaceful purposes.
Tehran has rejected their allegations, arguing that since the country is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.