(MENAFN- Gulf Times)
AFP/ Vienna
The head of the UN's atomic watchdog said Friday he had developed a "better understanding" with Iran on how to resolve a key sticking point in talks on an historic nuclear deal but warned that more work was required.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Yukiya Amano visited Tehran on Thursday with the aim of clearing up one of the thorniest issues in talks ongoing in Vienna on a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme.
"I believe that both sides have a better understanding on some ways forward though more work will be needed" Amano said in a statement.
At issue is a stalled IAEA probe into allegations that before 2003 and possibly since Iran conducted research work into developing nuclear weapons.
Iran rejects the allegations saying they are based on bogus intelligence provided to a gullible and partial IAEA by the likes of the CIA and Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.
The talks between Iran and the P5+1 - the United States Russia China Britain France and Germany - are focused more on the future capacities of Iran's nuclear programme.
But the major powers say that advancing the IAEA's investigation which could require the agency to visit military sites is vital for the wider accord which they aim to close by Tuesday.
The IAEA in 2011 released a major report on the "possible military dimensions" (PMD) of Iran's programme saying that the wealth of information made available to it was "credible".
Abbas Araghchi Iran's lead negotiator in the Vienna talks told Iranian media Friday that Tehran was "ready to cooperate with Mr. Amano so that it can be proved that these accusations and claims.. are baseless".
"Mr. Amano had a good visit to Tehran according to the reports we have had. It was a success and we hope to be able to make progress on PMD" said Araghchi who is deputy foreign minister.
President Hassan Rouhani who met Amano during his visit said on his website that Iran was "prepared to reach a fair framework for resolving remaining issues in a specified time under the... existing regulations."
Iran's ambassador to the IAEA Reza Najafi said Iran and the IAEA had reached "a general understanding" on a timeline for their continuing cooperation.
Amano said that his trip during which he also met Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani also touched on the increased role the IAEA would have after the deal with world powers.
The mooted accord would see Iran scale down its nuclear activities which it says are for peaceful civilian purposes but which world powers worry may be used to develop nuclear weapons.
The IAEA would have an oversight role.
In return for its concessions Iran would have painful sanctions imposed on it progressively lifted.
Apart from the PMD issue other difficult topics include the timing and pace of sanctions relief and Iran's future research and development into newer kinds of nuclear equipment.
A deal building on a framework accord from April would end a 13-year standoff over Iran's suspect nuclear programme and draw the curtain on almost two years of intense negotiations since Rouhani came to power in 2013.
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