Amano Calls For Talks With Iran On N-program

Saint Petersburg, June 29, IRNA - Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano on Thursday called for talks with Iran on the countryˈs nuclear program. Amano made the remarks on the sidelines of the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century at Saint Petersburg, Russia. IAEA believes that Iranˈs nuclear dispute should be resolved through dialogue and continued talks, he said. Talks with Iran should pursue defined goals, Amano underlined, acknowledging Iranian demand that Iran and the UN nuclear agency must sign a structured plan to go ahead with nuclear talks. Iran and IAEA signed a Modality Plan in 2006 to resolve the outstanding issues and former IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei verified non-diversion of Iranian nuclear program from civilian path after implementing the Modality Plan. Shortly after the IAEA verification, Washington called on IAEA to inspect Parchin military site, whereas, the military site had been visited by the agencyˈs inspectors in the process of the Modality Plan and Iran did not accept re-entry of inspectors to the military site again. Amano said that IAEA should be confident that Iranˈs nuclear sites are immune enough and are not exposed to dangers. He said that IAEA is determined to continue talks with Iran under presidency of the President-elect Hassan Rohani. IAEA is optimistic about the new round of talks with the Iranian president-elect, he added. International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century Saint Petersburg, Russian kicked off on Wednesday hosting some 4,000 guests from 53 countries. Iranian experts and scientists played significant role at the scientific panel of the conference. The agenda of the conference varied from international nuclear rights, teaching of nuclear science, protecting the environment and technological know-how. /end