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11/22/2024 01:36:29 am

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Iran, Nuclear Watchdog Renew Commitment in Nuclear Probe

Yukiya Amano

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano waves as he arrives for a board of governors meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna June 4, 2014. (REUTERS)

The United Nations nuclear watchdog chief visited Iran on Sunday in a bid to jump-start its investigation into Tehran's nuclear activities.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Yukiya Amano said Iran's President Hassan Rouhani made his firm commitment to cooperate with the nuclear agency in terms of investigating suspicions that Iran is building materials capable for nuclear arms production.

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Amano described the visit as short but "a useful one," where he met with Rouhani, Ali Akbar Salehi of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif.

While no details were disclosed regarding the meeting, Amano said he is pleased with its outcome, noting the Iranian leaders' willingness to implement the long-stalled Framework for Cooperation, which was inked by Iran and IAEA on November 11, 2013 to start the investigation.

Amano also said they discussed several proposals with Iran to make some progress under the Framework for Cooperation. He said he wants to make these proposals as soon as possible. 

The nuclear chief also said the parties followed up on several issues, including Iran's use of exploding bridge wire detonators, which could be used for nuclear bombs. However, Iran said its purpose is for oil and gas industry only.

Amano's visit, the first after the cooperation agreement were signed, comes ahead of the August 25 deadline given to Iran to provide relevant information regarding its nuclear program.

Amano said despite the delay, the nuclear agency is still committed to work with Iran and address both "past and present issues" through talks and cooperation.

The cooperation is separate from the negotiations of Iran with the six world powers-United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany-seeking to reduce Tehran's uranium production which they believed was capable of converting into nuclear weapons.

Iran, on the other hand, vehemently denied the accusations and said the program was solely for civilian use. They are expected to forge a long-term agreement by November this year.

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