Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency agreed on a roadmap for cooperation to remove outstanding issues regarding Tehran's nuclear program.

The two sides agreed on the roadmap at a meeting in Tehran on November 11.

Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukia Amano said that Iran and the IAEA will follow the roadmap for 3 months.

Amano also called the agreement an important step forward and reiterated that the IAEA is committed to resolving issues regarding Iran' nuclear program through cooperation and dialog.

He further emphasized that talks between Tehran and IAEA are independent of nuclear talks underway in Geneva.

Amano made the remarks at a joint press conference with the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi.

Salehi for his part said that based on the agreement reached with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Tehran will voluntarily allow the agency inspectors to visit Arak Heavy Water facility and the Gachin Mine.

The agreement is part of Iran's policy for more cooperation with the IAEA.

"Tehran has shown its full commitment to the IAEA's Safeguards Agreement," Salehi said.

Salehi went on to note that a joint statement between Iran and IAEA serves as a road map for future cooperation and settlement of unresolved issues.

The joint statement included six paragraphs. According to one of them the IAEA experts are allowed to monitor the Arak heavy-water reactor and Gechin uranium mine, located near the southern port of Bandar Abbas.

The last round of talks between Iran and the IAEA was held on September 27, after which Deputy Director General for Safeguards Herman Nackaerts hailed the meeting as "very constructive."

The U.S. and some of its allies suspect Tehran's nuclear program of trying to develop nuclear weapons capability, but Iran insists it is purely for peaceful purposes such as electricity generation and medical treatment.

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 energy for peaceful purposes.