IAEA, Iran Agree How to Resolve Plutonium Issues

UN nuclear watchdog said it had agreed with Iran on how to resolve remaining issues regarding the country's past plutonium experiments.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday it had agreed with Iran on how to resolve remaining issues regarding the country's past plutonium experiments following two days of talks in Tehran.

The agency also said it had agreed with Iran a visit of its inspectors to Iran's heavy water research reactor by the end of July and how to deal with safeguards at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant by early August.

In June, Iran and the agency agreed to draw up an "action plan" on how to resolve questions about the country's disputed nuclear programme. Western powers suspect that its nuclear programme is a front to obtain nuclear arms. Tehran says it wants nuclear technology only to generate power.

IAEA deputy director Olli Heinonen met Javad Vaeedi, Iran's deputy nuclear negotiator, and Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, on Wednesday and Thursday in the Iranian capital to discuss the plan.

The IAEA said it would meet Iran representatives in Vienna in July to finalise the work plan on outstanding issues. Another meeting dedicated to Iran's past plutonium experiments would be held in Iran in early August, the agency added.