IAEA pledges to work hard to resolve Iran nuclear issue

The chief inspector of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says he and his delegation will “work hard” during February 13 talks in Tehran to resolve the outstanding issues related to Iran’s nuclear energy program.

Herman Nackaerts said on Tuesday before leaving Vienna for Tehran that the IAEA’s objective is to “finalize the structured approach document” in view of resolving the “outstanding issues” regarding Iran’s nuclear activities.

“We will have good negotiations,” he added.

Iran and the IAEA last met in Tehran on January 17-18.

Iran is also scheduled to hold a new round of talks with the P5+1 group (the United States, France, Russia, Britain, and China plus Germany) in Kazakhstan on February 26.

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

Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that the Iranian nuclear program has been diverted toward military objectives.