Iran ready to cooperate with IAEA on PMD allegations: Deputy FM

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday voiced Tehran’s readiness to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to clear up misunderstandings over allegations of possible military dimensions (PMD) in Iran’s nuclear energy program.

“We are ready to cooperate with the agency (IAEA) on PMD and to speed up such cooperation in order to reach a clear conclusion in this regard, so that the falsehood of all those claims will be proven,” Araghchi told reporters in Vienna on Friday.

He described the allegations of PMD in Iran’s nuclear activities as an “old and chronic discussion” that dates back to years ago.

“At that time, allegations were made against Iran’s nuclear program that became the basis of pressures and sanctions,” Araghchi explained.

His comments came after IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano paid a visit to Iran on Thursday.

Araghchi hailed Amano’s visit as “good and fruitful,” saying reports he has received from Tehran and those by Amano’s colleagues suggest that the trip was successful and a step forward.

“There is now a good opportunity to settle these issues (like PMD) and the questions and the claims that had been made about the past in a calmer atmosphere,” the Iranian diplomat said.

“We are also prepared to cooperate with Mr. Amano to make it clear that the existing allegations and the files against the Islamic Republic of Iran are bogus and to demonstrate the white record of Iran’s nuclear program,” he stressed.

During his one-day visit to Tehran, Amano met Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani and President Hassan Rouhani.

In the meeting with the president, Amano appreciated Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA, saying the previous inspections have all confirmed that Iran has always honored its commitments and there has been no deviation towards military purposes in its nuclear activities.