Iran sets two prerequisites for new modality with IAEA

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Vienna, Sept 10, IRNA -- Iranian national security concerns must be taken into account in request for access to military site and the UN nuclear agency must present document on alleged studies, Iranian Ambassador to IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh said on Monday.

Iran has refused access to Parchin military site and Soltanieh said that the Safeguards Agreement with IAEA has not required the member states to open their military sites to inspection of the nuclear agency.

Iran has time and again ruled out the alleged studies about nuclear weapons and sought evidence to be presented by IAEA to prove the allegation.

“As long as main concerns with regards to Iran’s national security and our main demand for delivery of evidence on alleged studies are not included in the new modality plan, Iran will not sign the text,” Soltanieh said.

Iran and IAEA signed a modality plan in 2009 to resolve the outstanding issues and the Islamic Republic of Iran responded to eight outstanding questions of the agency leading to verification of former IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei about non-diversion of Iranian nuclear program.

Terming the the IAEA Board of Governors session as ordinary, Soltanieh said it focused on variety of subjects, including nuclear safety and application of nuclear energy in different domains.

He said outcome of nspections to Iran and Syria and certain other general issues were among other issues on agenda of the Governing Board.

The Iranian envoy said when the topic on Iran nuclear issue will be raised in the Board, he would for the first time as head of the NAM Vienna office and on part of NAM at the Board of Governors read out a statement, passed last week in support for Iran’s nuclear program.

Soltanieh said that the Board of Governors will present separately Iran’s statement on the nuclear program and the report of the IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano.

Terming the allegations leveled in connection with Iran-IAEA talks as “baseless and forged”, he said, “As proved in the past few years, we would continue with our engagement with the IAEA to prove baselessness of the allegations, but, the framework for the work should be drawn up at first.”

He said in the framework, our security concerns should be absolutely included as a condition.

“Obviously, there were differences of opinion during the Iran-IAEA talks and some of them have been removed.”

Asked about the date and venue of the next Iran-IAEA talks, Soltanieh said consultations are underway in that connection and in case of agreement, the venue and time of the talks will be announced.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1027325