Iran, IAEA agree on 7 new practical steps

TEHRAN,Feb.10(MNA) – After two days of “constructive technical” talks, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreed on Sunday on seven new practical measures to be implemented by Iran by May 15. Iranian officials have said that Tehran is ready to clear up any ambiguities about its nuclear activities and the agreement seems to fall within this policy. Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, had described the first day of talks as “good”, “progressive”, and “constructive”. The measures have been taken based on a joint statement that Iran and the UN nuclear agency signed on further cooperation on the country’s nuclear activities on November 11, 2013. Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, represented the Islamic Republic in the discussions, while the team from the UN nuclear agency was led by deputy IAEA director general Tero Varjoranta. Following the Sunday’s talks, Iran and the IAEA released the following joint statement: “On 8 and 9 February 2014, the Agency and the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) held constructive technical meetings within the Framework for Cooperation that was agreed between the parties last November. During the meetings, the two sides reviewed progress on the implementation of the six initial practical measures that were agreed three months ago. Iran has taken the initial practical measures that were foreseen. Iran and the Agency reached agreement on seven practical measures to be implemented by Iran by 15 May 2014. The agreed measures are: Providing mutually agreed relevant information and managed access to the Saghand mine in Yazd; Providing mutually agreed relevant information and managed access to the Ardakan concentration plant; Submission of an updated Design Information Questionnaire (DIQ) for the IR-40 Reactor; Taking steps to agree with the Agency on the conclusion of a Safeguards Approach for the IR-40 Reactor; Providing mutually agreed relevant information and arranging for a technical visit to Lashkar Ab'ad Laser Centre; Providing information on source material, which has not reached the composition and purity suitable for fuel fabrication or for being isotopically enriched, including imports of such material and on Iran's extraction of uranium from phosphates; and Providing information and explanations for the Agency to assess Iran's stated need or application for the development of Exploding Bridge Wire detonators.”