Iran, IAEA to hold new round of talks in December

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it will hold a new round of talks with Iran on the country’s nuclear energy program in December.

“The IAEA and Iran have agreed to hold further talks on December 13 in Tehran,” IAEA spokeswoman Gill Tudor announced in an email to AFP on Friday.

“The aim [of the talks] is to conclude the structured approach to resolving outstanding issues related to Iran’s nuclear [energy] program,” she said.

Reuters cited diplomatic sources as saying that Deputy Director General and Head of the Safeguards Department Herman Nackaerts would head the IAEA mission.

The last round of negotiations between Iran and the IAEA was held in the Austrian capital of Vienna on August 24, 2012.

Iran and the IAEA had also held talks in Vienna on May 14 and 15. Before this session, representatives of the two sides had held two rounds of talks in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in February and January.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran argues that as a signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the IAEA, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities, but has never found any evidence indicating diversion in Tehran’s nuclear energy program toward military purposes.