Iran-IAEA talks underway in Vienna
By Sara Rajabova
A new round of talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is underway in Vienna on December 11. The meeting takes place following the two-day expert-level talks between representatives of Iran and six countries.
Iran's Ambassador to the IAEA Reza Najafi is leading the Iranian delegation while the UN agency's team is led by Tero Varjoranta, the IAEA deputy director general and head of the Department of Safeguards, Press TV reported.
Prior to the talks, Najafi said the implementation of the Joint Statement on Framework for Cooperation between Iran and IAEA as well as practical measures which are expected to be taken during the second stage of the deal will be discussed during the Vienna meeting.
Iran and the IAEA signed joint statement on further cooperation on Tehran's nuclear activities in the Iranian capital on November 11.
Iran and the UN nuclear agency agreed on a roadmap for more cooperation on outstanding nuclear issues. Under the agreement, Iran would, on a voluntary basis, allow the IAEA inspectors to visit Arak heavy water plant and Gachin uranium mine in Bandar Abbas, in southern Iran.
The Iran-IAEA discussions are separate from, but closely linked to, negotiations between Tehran and six world powers which reached a historic deal in Geneva on November 24. Under the interim agreement, Tehran will offer some concessions on its nuclear program in exchange for limited relief from the sanctions.
Najafi voiced his satisfaction with expert meeting of Iran and the six countries in Vienna.
He said the expert meeting of Iran and the Group 5+1 was satisfactory and accompanied with progress.
Najafi said Iran-G5+1 meeting will continue on December 11.
However, two diplomats involved in the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the expert-level talks have so far failed to determine a start date for the implementation of the nuclear deal sealed between the two sides in Geneva, AFP reported.
They said it was unlikely that negotiations would lead to an agreement on a date for Iran to start a six-month freeze of parts of its nuclear energy program according to the November 24 deal.
Senior officials from Iran, the US, China, UK, France, Germany, Russia and the European Union (EU) and the IAEA attended the recent Vienna meeting.
The United States and some of Western countries suspect Iran of developing a nuclear weapon - something that Iran denies. Iran says it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons and is using nuclear energy for medical research instead.