IAEA experts in Iran to talks on nuclear deal

Experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived in Tehran Wednesday morning, hoping to resolve the differences between the UN nuclear watchdog and Iran over the latter's disputed nuclear program. On Tuesday, before leaving the Vienna airport, Herman Nackaerts, IAEA's deputy director general for safeguards, said "this time we will try to work hard to resolve the differences." The agency's goal "is to finalize the structured approach document," said Nackaerts. The IAEA and Iran met twice last December and in January to finalize a deal over the nuclear program, but they failed to reach any agreement. On Tuesday, head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Fereidoon Abbasi said that it is necessary for the negotiations to be conducted "rationally" and to avoid disputable points so that ambiguities could be settled. Also, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast on Tuesday said that his country is prepared to address the IAEA's concerns over certain aspects of the country's nuclear activities provided that Iran's nuclear rights on the basis of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) directives are recognized. Iran and the West are locked in a bitter dispute over the former's nuclear activities, with the latter accusing Tehran of developing nuclear weapon under the cover of peaceful purpose, a charge Iran has consistently denied. Iran has insisted that its rights to peaceful nuclear activities, and above all the right to uranium enrichment should be recognized by the IAEA and world powers.