By Bernama,
Tehran : Deputy Director General, Head of the Department of Safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Olli Heinonen will arrive in the Iranian capital on Thursday to discuss prospects for cooperation between Iran and the IAEA.
The agenda of the talks with the Islamic Republic’s officials has not been disclosed, Russian news agency, Itar-Tass, reported Thursday.
According to certain information, the visit will last three days and will be part of the IAEA’s programme of monitoring nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic. Heinonen will also hold consultations at the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation, sources said.
International observers say that the IAEA emissary may discuss with Iranian officials, among other things, Tehran’s answer to proposals of the “six” (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany).
The sextet has been expecting to get the answer since July 19. The point at issue is the package of economic and technological projects for the Iranians that are to show them the benefit from cooperation with the international community in the event of freezing uranium enrichment activities that cause the West’s concern.
In this connection analysts recalled a warning voiced in late May by Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani that in the event of reaching “agreements” on the nuclear dossier between the “six” and IAEA, the Iranian parliament will actively join the Tehran’s foreign policy and will set a new framework and boundaries for cooperation between Iran and the IAEA.
Thus, experts do not rule out that the new toughening of punitive measures against the Islamic Republic may cause the above reaction of Tehran and in this context the trip of Heinonen is quite timely.