Iran Requires IAEA To Sign Modality Prior To Access To Sites

Vienna, Feb 28, IRNA -- Iran on Monday required the International Atomic Energy Agency to sign Modality to resolve outstanding issues prior to access to Iranian sites. Iran's IAEA envoy Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said that the prerequisite to the IAEA inspectors' access to Iranian sites is signing a Modality Plan to resolve the outstanding issues. Speaking to IRNA after two-hour closed-door briefing session of Non-Aligned Movement at IAEA Headquarters, Soltanieh said the meeting discussed latest developments about Iran's nuclear issue, including two rounds of Tehran-IAEA talks. He said that at the NAM meeting, he expressed Iran's preparedness for cooperation with the IAEA, adding that no compromise will be made over Iranian nation's inalienable rights. He added that he briefed the NAM Representatives to IAEA about intensive talks with the agency's officials in Tehran and made it clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran showed goodwill and transparency on the legal and specialized aspects of the issue. As for question of some NAM ambassadors on the IAEA inspectors' access to Parchin, he said that first of all a modality in which duties of both sides are clarified, should be signed with all reservations so that the ground would be prepared for any inspection. The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to continue talks with the IAEA based on its international principles and commitments, including Non-Proliferation Treaty, said Soltanieh, adding that based on approvals of the NAM ambassadors, the working group of NAM, comprising deputy ambassadors immediately started work to prepare statement in support for the Islamic Republic of Iran. He noted that once finally approved, the NAM envoys' statement would be read out at the Board of Governors session by Egypt's ambassador. The IAEA Board session will convene next week. IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano released his latest Iran report on Iran three days ago./end