By Xinhua
Tehran : Officials from the UN atomic watchdog on Monday started a new round of talks here with Iran over its disputed nuclear program, the state-run media reported.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini was quoted as saying that the talks were mainly about Iran’s progress on the development of P1 and P2 centrifuges which are used to enrich uranium.
“Discussions between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran kicked off today and will last two or three days, the talks are mainly about P1 and P2 centrifuges,” the spokesman said in a statement.
“The talks are continuation of the previous talks and in the same framework,” he said, expressing hope that the negotiations would have a good result.
Compared with P1, P2 centrifuges are more advanced and could produce more uranium, which can be used as nuclear fuel or key material for atomic weapons at the same time.
Last month, Iran and IAEA has agreed on a timetable for the Islamic Republic to answer the top questions over the nuclear program.
Tehran also allowed the IAEA inspectors to visit its sensitive Arak heavy water nuclear reactor, apparently in order to persuade the international community not to choose a third sanction against the country.
The IAEA has praised Iran for its cooperation, but meanwhile insists Tehran should be more transparent over the remaining questions of its nuclear and missile program.
The United States has accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons under a civilian cover, and is pushing the UN Security Council to adopt a third sanction resolution against the Islamic Republic.
Iran has denied the accusations, saying it just wants to generate electricity and vowing a new sanction resolution may lead a conversion over its cooperation policy with the IAEA.
Since last December, the UN Security Council has passed two sanction resolutions against Iran’s nuclear and missile program, demanding Tehran to halt the sensitive enrichment work. Iran has repeatedly condemned and rejected the request.