IAEA Team in Iran for Cooperation Talks
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in Tehran on Wednesday for talks on how to proceed with a framework of cooperation that Iran and the UN nuclear agency signed in November 2013.
The visiting delegation is led by IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of Department of Safeguards Tero Tapio Varjoranta.
According to Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), the purpose of the visit is to hold talks on the Joint Statement on a Framework for Cooperation, which outlines a roadmap on mutual cooperation on certain outstanding nuclear issues between Iran and the IAEA.
Kamalvandi said the statement entails cooperation in a step-by-step process, adding that 2 steps have been taken so far and only two of the five subjects in the third step are now being discussed.
"The total of the three stages of cooperation between Iran and the agency included 18 subjects, 16 of which have been finalized," he explained.
The two remaining issues include the IAEA's questions on alleged research activities into explosives testing and neutron calculations, Kamalvandi said, noting that Iran has repeatedly announced its readiness for full cooperation with the agency to settle the issues.
Back in November 2014, Iran's IAEA ambassador had voiced Tehran's preparedness to enhance cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog by offering the agency access to Marivan, a region mentioned in a 2011 IAEA report for alleged nuclear activities.