IAEA: Iran Complying With Commitments
VIENNA (Dispatches) -- Iran has continued to meet its commitments under an interim nuclear agreement with six world powers, a confidential United Nations nuclear agency report showed on Friday.
The monthly update by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran was not enriching uranium above a fissile concentration of five percent. It also said Iran had not made "any further advances" to its activities at two enrichment facilities and a heavy water reactor under construction.
Under last year's accord between Iran and the United States, France, Germany, Russia, China and Britain, the Islamic Republic halted its most sensitive nuclear activity and took other steps in exchange for some easing of economic sanctions.
It was negotiated to buy time for talks on a final settlement of a 12-year dispute over Iran's nuclear program.
France and Britain claimed on Thursday that Iran had not demonstrated sufficient flexibility in the nuclear talks. The remarks, at the United Nations, came just after the completion of another inconclusive round of negotiations in Geneva this week.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi however said he had "very useful and helpful" nuclear negotiations with major powers in Geneva.
Araqchi, speaking to reporters at the end of all-day closed-door talks, said there was an agreement to continue nuclear talks "next month" at a venue to be decided.
"We had very intense negotiations. It was very useful and helpful," Araqchi said, without giving details.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile said negotiators are "very close” to resolving the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.
Speaking at a live news conference, the Russian leader praised the Iranian leadership for "demonstrating great flexibility” in the talks, according to the state news service Sputnik News.
"I do not understand why the final deal has not been inked yet. I hope it will happen in the near future,” he added, according to the Sputnik report.
The Russian leader may soon be visiting the Iranian capital Tehran, he said.
"My trip to Tehran is possible. We are currently arranging it through diplomatic channels.”
He hinted that such a visit might be intended to defy Western pressures, saying, "If we find that we need a separate meeting (with the Iranian president), then we have no limits. We have no limits regarding any sort of external pressure.”
The French UN mission posted on Twitter on Thursday that "new ideas submitted during the talks in Vienna deserved careful consideration by the P5 + 1 members".
Iran and the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia failed last month to meet a self-imposed deadline to resolve the standoff, extending the talks for seven more months.
Under the interim deal's extension, Iran would continue to convert higher-grade uranium oxide into reactor fuel.
Friday's IAEA report said Iran on Nov. 25 "temporarily stopped the operations for conversion and fuel manufacturing" in preparation for the UN agency's inventory checks at the facility that were subsequently carried out Dec. 14-16.
The language implied that Iran was soon expected to resume conversion and one diplomatic source said he saw no problem.
Iran converted 25 kg of uranium oxide enriched to 20% fissile concentration under the first extension of the interim agreement, or a quarter of the total stock. Diplomats said this should continue at an average rate of about five kg per month.
The monthly update by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran was not enriching uranium above a fissile concentration of five percent. It also said Iran had not made "any further advances" to its activities at two enrichment facilities and a heavy water reactor under construction.
Under last year's accord between Iran and the United States, France, Germany, Russia, China and Britain, the Islamic Republic halted its most sensitive nuclear activity and took other steps in exchange for some easing of economic sanctions.
It was negotiated to buy time for talks on a final settlement of a 12-year dispute over Iran's nuclear program.
France and Britain claimed on Thursday that Iran had not demonstrated sufficient flexibility in the nuclear talks. The remarks, at the United Nations, came just after the completion of another inconclusive round of negotiations in Geneva this week.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi however said he had "very useful and helpful" nuclear negotiations with major powers in Geneva.
Araqchi, speaking to reporters at the end of all-day closed-door talks, said there was an agreement to continue nuclear talks "next month" at a venue to be decided.
"We had very intense negotiations. It was very useful and helpful," Araqchi said, without giving details.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile said negotiators are "very close” to resolving the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.
Speaking at a live news conference, the Russian leader praised the Iranian leadership for "demonstrating great flexibility” in the talks, according to the state news service Sputnik News.
"I do not understand why the final deal has not been inked yet. I hope it will happen in the near future,” he added, according to the Sputnik report.
The Russian leader may soon be visiting the Iranian capital Tehran, he said.
"My trip to Tehran is possible. We are currently arranging it through diplomatic channels.”
He hinted that such a visit might be intended to defy Western pressures, saying, "If we find that we need a separate meeting (with the Iranian president), then we have no limits. We have no limits regarding any sort of external pressure.”
The French UN mission posted on Twitter on Thursday that "new ideas submitted during the talks in Vienna deserved careful consideration by the P5 + 1 members".
Iran and the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia failed last month to meet a self-imposed deadline to resolve the standoff, extending the talks for seven more months.
Under the interim deal's extension, Iran would continue to convert higher-grade uranium oxide into reactor fuel.
Friday's IAEA report said Iran on Nov. 25 "temporarily stopped the operations for conversion and fuel manufacturing" in preparation for the UN agency's inventory checks at the facility that were subsequently carried out Dec. 14-16.
The language implied that Iran was soon expected to resume conversion and one diplomatic source said he saw no problem.
Iran converted 25 kg of uranium oxide enriched to 20% fissile concentration under the first extension of the interim agreement, or a quarter of the total stock. Diplomats said this should continue at an average rate of about five kg per month.