IAEA Chief Amano in Tehran for Talks with Iranian Officials

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi had noted on Sunday that Amano is coming to Iran on a “ceremonial” visit aimed at enhancing the cooperation between AEOI and IAEA.

AEOI Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi had also announced that Amano is paying the visit at the invitation of the AEOI and is slated to hold two meetings with senior Iranian officials on Monday.  

Amano is not going to visit any site in Iran, Kamalvandi stressed on Sunday.

He had emphasized that the AEOI has invited the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog to quickly reach an “extensive conclusion” with the international body over the implementation of the nuclear deal with the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), known as JCPOA.

“In the JCPOA, eight years has been envisioned for the implementation process but we (Iran) want to reach it sooner,” the AEOI spokesman said, adding that the goal is possible through close cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA.

Late on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini announced in a joint statement that the implementation of a nuclear deal finalized by Tehran and world powers back in July 2015 has officially been started.

The announcement was made after the IAEA confirmed Iran’s commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).