Iran says agreement with IAEA not delaying tactic

By Xinhua

London : Iran’s agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was not a delaying tactic, said Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani in an interview with Financial Times newspaper which was published on Monday.


Support TwoCircles

Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Iran was open to “ideas being put on the table” in his upcoming talks with the European Union representative on Iran’s nuclear issue.

In an agreement with the IAEA reached in late August, Iran vowed to clear up issues that have raised suspicions about its nuclear intentions.

Larijani said whether all the issues would be cleared by next month would be contingent upon the speed with which the IAEA operated.

“The more acceleration there is by the agency, the faster it will be completed,” he said.

Pledging to continue to cooperate with the IAEA, however, he said Iran’s nuclear progress could not be reversed and world powers should enter into negotiations with the Iranian government without preconditions.

Washington has accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian program, seeking tougher sanctions against Iran through the UN Security Council.

Washington has never ruled out military action against Iran to curb Tehran’s alleged nuclear programs.

Iran, while strongly denying the U.S. allegations, has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Tehran has voiced hope for talks to defuse the nuclear standoff with the United States.

SUPPORT TWOCIRCLES HELP SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND NON-PROFIT MEDIA. DONATE HERE