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Envoy: Iran prepared for any IAEA Board decision

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Vienna, Nov 23, IRNA
Iran-IAEA-Akhundzadeh
The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to deal with and face any decision the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will adopt in its Vienna meeting on Thursday, said an Iranian diplomat here on Wednesday.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared for unconditional talks while is also ready to face whatever condition," Iran's ambassador and permanent envoy to the Vienna-based international organizations Mohammad-Mehdi Akhundzadeh told IRNA Vienna correspondent when asked to comment on Europe's willingness for nuclear talks with Tehran.

The diplomat confirmed that consultations have been going on with the EU, hoping that the IAEA Board meeting on Thursday will be free of any tension and would meet the expectations of all related parties.

"We believe that the atmosphere of calm, being free of any political pressures, at the IAEA Board will help settle remaining issues and ambiguities surrounding the case of Iran's nuclear activities," said Akhundzadeh.

The senior nuclear official referred to the ongoing meeting of the IAEA Board's NAM and EU members, saying they were awaiting outcomes of the closed door session because after that many stances and points of view will become transparent and one can decide on the same basis.

Representatives of NAM troika (Malaysia, South Africa and Cuba) and the EU3 (France, Germany and UK) held in camera meeting at the IAEA Vienna headquarters on Wednesday to discuss Iran's nuclear case.

A NAM envoy, calling the meeting 'significant', said results of the session can affect the quarterly meeting of the IAEA Board regarding Iran, slated for Thursday.

Akhundzadeh said the NAM statement, which is due to be read out at the Board's Thursday meeting, is 'positive', incorporating the views and stances of the NAM group of states, and is expected to help the Board continue with its meeting free of any tension and controversy.

Commenting on the latest stances of Russia and China on Iran's nuclear case, Akhundzadeh said the two states are emphasizing on settlement of the case within the IAEA and have been insisting on their stance in their recent meeting with the European and American partners in London.

He said efforts are generally based toward settlement of Iran's nuclear case with the IAEA framework and proponents of the view continue to grow in number.

Iran's IAEA envoy said Iran too follows the same policy and considers cooperation with the Agency as one of the main pivots of its collaboration with the Agency in that case.

The senior Iranian diplomat said the IAEA Board should clear itself of any claim of getting politicized, saying that only in the technical and specialized atmosphere, facts would reveal themselves more easily and authenticity of Iranian officials' statements, that Tehran has not been diverting from peaceful nuclear activities, will become more evident.

Referring to Iran's constant cooperation with the IAEA inspectors, Akhundzadeh said Iran believes that through constant transparency and confidence building, it can win support of the countries that have been doubting its possessing nuclear fuel cycle.

The practice, he added, would further lay the seal of approval on the international level to Iran's indisputable right of acquiring the cycle, concluded Akhundzadeh.

1420/2322/1414