Nuclear chief asks IAEA to avoid hasty review of Iran’s nuclear programme

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to avoid hasty moves in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program. Salehi pointed to the limited capacities and number of personnel of the IAEA and AEOI, and said, “I call on the IAEA to pursue its issues more patiently and avoid haste.” He also reminded the 6-paragraph agreement signed between the AEOI and the IAEA in November, and said the two sides are now dealing with the last part of the agreement, adding that once the two sides are through with this last paragraph, they would have a round of talks. Asked to comment on the recent statements made by US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman against Iran, Salehi said, “We do not take Sherman’s statements seriously … as her remarks are meant for inside use.” On Saturday, Director-General of the IAEA Yukiya Amano said Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog would have a new round of talks on February 8 after the recent progress in their negotiations. "We started with measures that are practical and easy to implement, and then we move on to more difficult things," Amano said. He further added that the next round of talks between Iran and the IAEA is scheduled to be held on February 8. Early in November, Amano and Salehi signed a joint statement in Tehran which presented a roadmap for future cooperation to resolve the remaining issues between the two sides. According to the statement, the IAEA and Iran agreed to strengthen their cooperation and dialogue aimed at ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program through the resolution of all outstanding issues that have not already been resolved by the IAEA. "The IAEA agreed to continue to take into account Iran's security concerns, including through the use of managed access and the protection of confidential information," the statement said. According to the statement, it was agreed that Iran and the IAEA will cooperate further with respect to verification activities to be undertaken by the IAEA to resolve all present and past issues. It is foreseen that Iran's cooperation will include providing the IAEA with timely information about its nuclear facilities and in regard to the implementation of transparency measures. Activities will proceed in a step-by-step manner. "As a first step, Iran and the IAEA agreed to the practical measures listed in the attached Annex. Iran will provide the access and information within three months from the date of the statement (today). The IAEA will report to the Board of Governors on progress in the implementation of these measures," it said. On November 24, Iran and the world powers sealed a six-month Joint Plan of Action to lay the groundwork for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over its nuclear energy program. In exchange for Tehran’s confidence-building bid to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the Sextet of world powers agreed to lift some of the existing sanctions against Tehran and continue talks with the country to settle all problems between the two sides. Then after several rounds of experts talks on how to enforce the agreement, Iran and the six major world powers finalized an agreement on ways to implement the deal. On January 20, a confidential report by the IAEA said that Iran has halted its 20-percent enrichment activity under the Geneva deal. Hours later the US and the EU removed part of their sanctions against Tehran. On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also slammed Sherman’s remarks, and advised her to make statements based on realities. Sherman said on Tuesday that the six-month interim agreement that was reached with Iran was "not perfect" but it bought time to try to secure a comprehensive deal. "We see this as a first step so we don't consider the gaps that exist loopholes because this is not a final agreement," she told lawmakers. "This is not perfect but this does freeze and roll back their program in significant ways and give us time on the clock to in fact negotiate that comprehensive agreement," Sherman told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Speaking in a joint press conference with Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Madani in Tehran on Wednesday, Zarif called on Sherman to “review the realities even for the internal use”. He described the US officials’ remarks as a barrier standing in the way of the settlement of disputes over Iran’s nuclear program, and said, “Iran’s nuclear technology is not negotiable.” Zarif also stressed that the Iranian team of negotiators will never withdraw from the nation’s rights, and “similar to the past, the other side will be forced to give up its wishes”. His remarks alluded to US President Barack Obama’s comments that Washington has some impossible wishes and its seeks negotiations with Iran to reach a solution based on realities.