Iran: Soltanieh dismisses IAEA's latest report

One of Iran's senior nuclear officials Ali Asghar Soltanieh has publically dismissed the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) latest report on the country's nuclear programme. Speaking to IRNA news agency, Soltanieh said: “The report brings up repetitive and boring content... based on unfounded allegations and speculation regarding some activities with supposed military objectives…The agency's scientific and professional reputation will without a doubt be damaged for dealing with these accusations, failing to provide solid evidence, and seeking political objectives."

On Tuesday 24th May, the IAEA said it was assessing new data on Iran's nuclear activities which could potentially reveal previously “undisclosed” atomic intentions. AFP news agency, who obtained a copy of the report, said there were indications that the alleged work in Iran "may have continued beyond 2004."

Iran has always maintained that its nuclear programme was intended for civil uses, rather than for the development of military weapons. The international community, however, has continued to fear that the Islamic Republic is pursuing a nuclear weapons programme despite four rounds of UN sanctions.

Soltanieh added that the report showed Iran was "successfully" implementing its uranium enrichment programme, saying: "It has been clearly noted in the report that our nuclear activities, including enrichment, are being conducted successfully under supervision of the agency."

Sources: AFP, Press TV, Fars News Agency, IRNA

For more news and expert analysis about Iran, please see Iran Strategic Focus.

UPDATE: Iran and the UN agree on more nuclear talks in January

Iran and the UN have concluded two-day talks about Tehran's nuclear programme. Iranian state-television said that another round of talks has been agreed for January in Istanbul.

The meeting ended on a positive note, with several of the participants describing it as “constructive” and having been conducted in a “good atmosphere”. However, it seems that no clear outcome has been reached as Iran's president has once again called on the UN to lift its sanctions.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was cited on Iranian state TV as saying that “cancelling the mistakes” of imposing sanctions would make the impending meeting in January more “fruitful”.

Speaking about the meeting a senior Iranian official said, "The negotiations will resume in end-January in Istanbul to discuss cooperation and find common points."

The international community fear that Tehran may be in the process of constructing nuclear arms, however Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is designed for peaceful civil use.

Source: BBC News

For more news and expert analysis about Iran, please see Iran Strategic Focus.

Iran and the UN Security Council resume talks

Iran and the UN Security Council have begun a second day of discussions over Tehran's nuclear programme. The first day of talks, which lasted almost 10 hours, was described by an Iranian official as “constructive” and “forward moving”.

On Sunday, ahead of the talks, Iran said it has delivered its first home produced raw uranium and added that it would go in to the discussions with “strength and power”. The international community fears that Tehran's nuclear programme may be geared for production of nuclear weapons, but Iran insists that its nuclear activities are purely peaceful.

Reuter's quoted an unnamed source as saying that Tuesday's talks between Iran and the UN would, “fix the framework for future discussions during which we could talk about nuclear disarmament and about co-operation in the civil nuclear domain. The [nuclear] right of Iran will not be discussed. If we agree on a framework, we could have several sessions of negotiations".

The UN Security Council has said that until Iran's nuclear activities are clearly established as peaceful, the Islamic republic should suspend its enrichment activities. Experts say that the best outcome of the discussions would result in the two sides agreeing to hold further meetings.

Source: BBC News

For more news and expert analysis about Iran, please see Iran Strategic Focus.