Iran 'PMD' probe may be completed in 2015: IAEA chief
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says investigation into the so-called Possible Military Dimensions (PMD) of Iran’s nuclear program could be completed by the end of the year.
"With the cooperation from Iran I think we can issue a report by the end of the year on the ... clarification of the issues related to possible military dimensions," IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano told reporters on Saturday before heading into talks on Iran’s nuclear program in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
On Friday, a senior Iranian diplomat said Tehran is ready to cooperate with the IAEA to help remove misunderstandings regarding the PMD issue.
“We are ready to cooperate with the agency on the issue of PMD and speed up cooperation, so that we can reach a clear conclusion in this respect and prove wrong all claims in that regard,” Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi told reporters in Vienna on Friday.
Araqchi, who is a senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiating delegation, described the issue of PMD as "outdated and chronic," adding that it has been part of allegations against Iran aimed at piling up pressure and imposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
The senior Iranian diplomat also described as "positive and successful" Amano's July 2 visit to Iran, where he held talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.
In a statement issued on Friday after the visit, Amano said Iran and the IAEA have a "better understanding" in some areas but added that more work is required toward the resolution of outstanding issues including the so-called possible military dimensions.
Iran nuclear negotiations
On Saturday, Amano commented on the ongoing talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries on drafting a final deal on Tehran’s nuclear program.
He said that the IAEA has stepped up its engagement with the six world powers in recent months in order to ensure that any deal is "technically sound."
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- plus Germany are pressing ahead with talks to hammer out a final deal by July 7.
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