IAEA chief anticipates deal with Iran but Western powers sceptical

The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Tuesday he expected to sign a deal with Iran soon to unblock a probe into suspected work on nuclear weapons, potentially brightening prospects for big-power talks with Tehran to stop a drift toward conflict. Yukiya Amano was summarizing the outcome of rare talks he conducted in Tehran Monday, two days before six powers meet with Iran’s security council chief in Baghdad to test Iranian willingness to reform its nuclear program in a transparent manner. Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said his wish for access to Iran’s Parchin military complex where nuclear-weapons-relevant tests may have occurred would be addressed as part of the accord. However, the major powers will be wary of past failures to carry out extra inspection deals between the IAEA and Iran, and Western patience is wearing thin. European sanctions to block Iran’s economically vital oil exports are to take force in July and Israel has suggested military action. Amano acknowledged that “some differences” remained before the deal he discussed on his first visit to Tehran could be sealed, although chief Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili had assured the IAEA chief that these would not thwart agreement. Amano, who flew impromptu to Tehran to capitalize on progress in Vienna in talks held by senior aides with the Islamic Republic, described the outcome of his meeting in Iran as an “important development ... We understood each other’s position better.” Asked what differences persisted, Amano said only that they were “details of discussions on this document.”TURN TO PAGE 10FROM PAGE 1Western diplomats suggested there were still unresolved issues concerning the way the IAEA’s probe would be conducted, with Iran wanting to control and restrict it in ways the U.N. agency could not accept. Those accredited to the IAEA said that whether concerns about Iran’s nuclear intentions would be allayed by the deal would depend on how it was applied on the ground. The U.S. gave a cool reception Tuesday to the proposed deal, saying the agreement marked a “step forward” but adding that Tehran would be judged on actions leading to tangible results. “The announcement of the deal is one thing, but the implementation is what we’re going to be looking for,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. The U.S. wants “access to all of the locations, the documents and the personnel that the IAEA requires in order to determine whether Iran’s program is exclusively for peaceful purposes.” From The Daily Star