IAEA hails ‘significant progress’ in Iran roadmap implementation

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has hailed the “significant progress” made in the implementation of a roadmap signed between Iran and the nuclear monitoring body in July.

“Significant progress has been achieved,” Yukiya Amano told reporters in the Austrian capital city of Vienna on Monday, a day after visiting Iran.

The IAEA chief, however, stressed that “much work remains” to be done so that the agency could complete its investigation of Iran’s nuclear program before the December 15 deadline set in the roadmap.

During his short stay in Iran, Amano met with several high-ranking Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, and also visited the Parchin military site located near Tehran.

Earlier in the day, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced that Iranian experts took samples from Parchin site in accordance with relevant directives and procedures, and submitted them to the UN nuclear agency.

“Iranian experts took environmental samples from specific locations at Parchin complex without the presence of the Agency’s inspectors,” said Behrouz Kamalvandi, an AEOI spokesman.

He said the sample-taking followed recent talks between Iran and the IAEA on mutual cooperation within the framework of the roadmap.

Parchin samples authentic: IAEA

Amano has confirmed the “authenticity” of the Parchin samples, saying the UN nuclear agency “monitored” the sampling process.

“The agency can confirm the integrity of the sampling process and the authenticity of the samples, which were taken at places of interest to the agency at the particular location in Parchin,” he stated, adding, “Authentication by the agency of the samples was achieved through use of an established verification process. The process was carried out under our responsibility and monitoring.”

On July 14, Iran and the IAEA signed a road map regarding the Islamic Republic’s nuclear work in the Austrian capital city of Vienna. The agreement was reached on the same day Iran and the P5+1 – the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany – finalized the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna.

As part of the road map, the IAEA is required to finish its investigations about Iran’s nuclear activities and submit a report to the agency’s board by December 15.

Last week, Amano said Iran has successfully met its obligations as stipulated in the roadmap, including an August 15 deadline for sending written explanations on its past activities.