Breakthrough deal with Iran likely in Jan: IAEA
14 Dec 2012
The head of UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today that a deal with Iran over its nuclear programme is likely in January, even as the US slapped fresh sanctions on the West Asian country over the alleged military nature of its programme.
Tehran has repeatedly denied the Western charge that it is trying to make nuclear weapons.
The agreement with the IAEA came after one-day talks in Tehran, IAEA chief inspector Herman Nackaerts told reporters after returning to Vienna. The agreement will among other things allow inspectors access to a military complex where Tehran is believed to be testing nuclear materials.
"We have agreed to meet again on 16 January next year, where we expect to finalise the structured approach and start implementing it then shortly after that," Nackaerts said.
Access to the Parchin military complex, just outside Tehran, is a key element in the negotiations. This is where Tehran is suspected of testing nuclear materials.
"We have not been given access to Parchin this time. But as you know access to Parchin is part of the structured approach, and we hope as I said that we will implement that shortly," Nackaerts said.
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