Iran, IAEA take 3rd step in cooperation
By Sara Rajabova
Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreed to five new practical measures for more cooperation.
The agreement is considered a 3rd step in their cooperation process.
Following a technical meeting in Tehran on May 21, the two sides released a joint statement describing the measures, Press TV reported.
The two sides agreed that the progress achieved in implementing the seven practical steps in a period of three months was quite satisfactory, and that five more steps should be taken by August 25, 2014.
"These three measures are related to current issues and two others to past issues," Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA Reza Najafi said after the meeting.
The two sides also reviewed the progress made in carrying out the seven practical measures agreed to three months ago.
Headed by Tero Varjoranta, the IAEA Deputy Director General and head of the Safeguards Department, the IAEA delegation arrived in Tehran early on May 20.
Iran says it has implemented 13 agreements reached earlier with the agency fully and practically, and expects that to be properly reflected in the upcoming IAEA report on Iran.
Iran is holding two separate sets of talks over its nuclear program with the IAEA and six world powers.
Iran and the six world powers -Russia, China, France, Britain, the United States, and Germany-clinched a landmark interim deal in the Swiss city of Geneva last November to pave the way for the full resolution of the West's decade-long dispute with Iran over its nuclear program.
Under the deal, dubbed the Geneva Joint Plan of Action, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran's agreement to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period.
It was also agreed that no nuclear-related sanctions will be imposed on Iran within the same timeframe. The agreement took effect on January 20.
The six countries want Iran to dramatically cut back its uranium enrichment program, while Iran is trying to get rid of the tough sanctions imposed on the country.