Iran ready to work with IAEA over 'PMD' issue: Araqchi

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi

A senior Iranian diplomat says Tehran is ready to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help remove misunderstandings regarding the so-called Possible Military Dimensions (PMD) of Iran's nuclear program.   

“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 the Austrian city of 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Araqchi, who is a senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiating delegation, described the issue of PMD as “outdated and chronic,” adding that it has been part of allegations against Iran aimed at piling up pressure and imposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic.  

He said that Iran is prepared to work with IAEA chief Yukiya Amano to prove that allegations regarding Iran’s nuclear activities are false and see the agency give a “clean bill” of health over Tehran's atomic program.

“We are very hopeful that progress would be made in resolving the issue of the PMD,” Araqchi added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the senior Iranian diplomat described as “positive and successful” Amano’s Thursday visit to Iran to hold talks with the country’s officials on Tehran’s nuclear program.

The UN nuclear chief sat down with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.

A handout picture released on July 2, 2015 by the official website of the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani shows him (R) meeting with the head of the UN nuclear agency Yukiya Amano.

'Better understanding'

In a statement on Friday, Amano said that Iran and the UN body have a "better understanding" in some areas but stressed that more work is required.

"The purpose of the visit was to advance work towards the resolution of all outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, including clarification of possible military dimensions," Amano said.

"I believe that both sides have a better understanding on some ways forward, though more work will be needed."

AR/NN/HMV


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