Iran rejects any inspection of military sites, interviews with nuclear scientists
A senior Iranian nuclear negotiator has rejected calls for interviews with Iranian nuclear scientists as well as inspections of military sites.
Abbas Araqchi, who also serves as a deputy to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, made the remarks on Saturday as Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry resumed a fresh round of talks over Tehran’s nuclear program in the Swiss city of Geneva.
The Iranian official said the meeting between Zarif and Kerry is aimed at working out solutions to certain outstanding issues.
“There are issues, to which we are still looking for solutions, and we hope that today’s meeting would help their resolution,” Araqchi stated.
The Iranian deputy foreign minister added that the EU political director, Helga Schmid, is also present in Saturday’s talks between the senior Iranian and US diplomats.
Negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 group of countries – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany – are seeking to finalize a comprehensive deal on Tehran’s nuclear program. The two sides have set July 30 as the deadline for the final deal.
Araqchi also stated that among the issues of difference being discussed between Iran and the opposite side is how to implement the Additional Protocol to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Safeguards Agreements.
The Additional Protocol requires member states to provide a detailed declaration of their nuclear activities and grants the IAEA broader rights of access to their nuclear sites.
In addition to Araqchi, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi as well as Hamid Baeedinejad, who is the director general for political and international affairs at Iran’s Foreign Ministry, are in Geneva to accompany Zarif in the nuclear talks.
AR/HSN/HMV
Iran set to build more nuclear power plants: AEOI chief
Explainer: What is Iran’s nuclear doctrine and what if it changes?
IRGC warns of 'tit-for-tat' retaliation if Israel attacks Iran's nuclear facilities
Iran: US lacks competence to comment on human rights, freedom of expression
It could take 14 years to remove debris left by Israel war on Gaza: UN
Iran, China discuss military cooperation
Sanders to Netanyahu: 'Don’t insult American people’s intelligence'
Tehran economic conference: Raeisi hails Iran-Africa expansion of ties
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Severe heat wave hits India as phase 2 of polling begins
What to expect after President Raeisi's visit to Pakistan
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
