No access beyond Additional Protocol: Senior nuclear negotiator

Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator said there is no discussion on providing acess to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) beyond the voluntary Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) safeguards.

No access beyond Additional Protocol: Senior nuclear negotiator
‘What is being raised in the negotiations and what Mr. Amano has also talked about it within the same framework, is the accesses provided according to the Additional Protocol,’ he told reporters after meeting IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano on Thursday.

Assessing the meeting as helpful, Araqchi commented on recent remarks by the UN nuclear watchdog’s chief about inspecting Iran’s military centers, and said, ‘Nothing beyond what IAEA is carrying out in other countries has been meant.’

‘Access to non-nuclear sites which can include military centers has its own conditions under the Additional Protocol and is meant for taking field samples,’ said the Iranian deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs who is in Vienna to hold new round of talks with US and EU officials.

On his talks in Vienna, the senior negotiator said, ‘There are still many differences both in particular and general issues.’

‘It seems the talks should continue for another two weeks to reach a single text and a draft with the least differences about it so that it can be finalized in the upcoming ministerial meeting.’

Araqchi admitted there is a slow progress due to the difficult nature of talks and said, ‘We will do our utmost to reach a sustained procdure and to speed up the process.’