BICOM

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) yesterday announced that Iran has agreed to take a number of measures to address suspicions over Tehran’s nuclear development.

Iran’s talks with the IAEA have taken place separately from the diplomatic process between Tehran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) but are nonetheless seen as an important indicator of Iranian nuclear transparency.

In a joint IAEA-Iran statement, the two sides said they had conducted “constructive technical meetings.” The IAEA also said that Iran had agreed to undertake seven preliminary, practical measures before 15 May in order to alleviate some of the agency’s concerns. These include an explanation for Iran’s development of exploding bridge wire detonators, which can be used to detonate an atomic device.

Former chief IAEA inspector Herman Nackaerts told Reuters, “It is an important issue and it is good that the agency can now tackle it.” Other measures to be taken by Iran under the agreement are access for international inspectors at the Saghand uranium mine and the Ardakan uranium ore milling plant, as well as further design information on another planned reactor. However, the agreement appeared to tackle mainly straightforward concerns and did not include more contentious and difficult issues such as access for international inspectors to the Parchin facility outside Tehran, where it is believed suspicious explosive tests have been carried out.

The announcement yesterday comes ahead of talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers on 18 February, during which the two sides are set to discuss a permanent agreement over Tehran’s nuclear development. In November, the two sides agreed a six-month deal under which Iran halted its development of 20 per cent enriched uranium in return for limited sanctions relief.