Zarif Urges IAEA To Play Effective Role In Settling Iran-West Row

Tehran, Nov 12, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed hope that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would play an effective role in resolving the existing problems concerning Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. “We hope that in view of Iran’s new approach in reinvigorating cooperation with the IAEA, this agency will fully play its effective in resolution of the existing problems,” Zarif said in a meeting with IAEA Director-General Yukio Amano in Tehran on Monday. Zarif and Amano held talks on the trend of Iran-IAEA cooperation. Zarif voiced his pleasure over Amano’s visit to Tehran and signing a joint statement and memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and IAEA. Zarif also expressed the hope that the trend of cooperation between the two sides will be in line with removal of the rational concerns by some parties and settlement of some problems. Zarif pointed to longtime Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA and fulfillment of its commitments on the basis of international laws and regulations, including non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and even voluntary implementation of the additional protocol, and said, “In view of Iran’s new approach in consolidation and expansion of cooperation with the IAEA , this agency will play an influential role in reinforcing the trend and approach of dialogue for final settlement of Iran’s nuclear issue.” Zarif pointed to the concurrence of the new round of Iran-IAEA cooperation with Iran-Group 5+1 talks and also the impact of IAEA’s future reports based on Iran’s further cooperation and interaction on the general atmosphere of negotiations, and voiced Iran’s readiness to fulfill its legal commitments within the NPT framework and also helping the IAEA’s director-general to fulfill his duties. Amano, for his part, voiced his gratitude over his visit to Tehran and his talks with Head of the Atomic Energy Agency of Iran, and laid emphasis on the IAEA’s inherent duty of supervision over the programs and testing the truths regarding different countries’ nuclear activities, including that of Iran./end