UN agrees nuclear talks with Iran
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog is to visit Tehran next week for talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that its director general Mohamed ElBaradei had accepted Iran’s invitation to hold further talks on the implementation of IAEA safeguards agreements.
The announcement follows the IAEA’s call for environmental samplings and enhanced inspections in the face of what it insists to be the country’s failure to disclose certain nuclear material and activities.
Meetings are scheduled with Iranian authorities in Tehran on 9 July.
Pressure has been mounting on the Iranian government for some time to clear the way for UN inspectors to enter the country to carry out more detailed checks on its nuclear capacity.
UK foreign secretary Jack Straw demanded on Sunday that Tehran open its doors as ‘soon as possible.’
The International Atomic Energy Agency has already called on Iran to embrace the new protocol on the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.
IAEA says Tehran should stop further enrichment of uranium.
Iran, which was included by US President Bush’s in his so-called ‘axis of evil’, has also been warned not to interfere in Iraq’s affairs.
The US has raised suspicion that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge it strongly denies.
The United Nations, Russia and the EU have all also called on Iran to allow for greater openness in inspections.
Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi said over the weekend that his government was prepared to sign the new non-proliferation protocol if the IAEA offered to assist Iran in a non-military atomic programme.
‘We are ready for talks and cooperation. But Iran’s transparency should be reciprocated. When Iran signs the protocol, others should also take positive steps,’ he said.
