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Russia hails Iran’s readiness to settle disagreements on nuclear programme

Russia believes that the IAEA should back Iran’s readiness for the dialogue

VIENNA, May 16 (Itar-Tass) - Russia lauds Iran’s readiness to end the work on an agreement with the IAEA on the structural approach towards determining military components of nuclear researches, Russian permanent representative to the IAEA Vladimir Voronkov told Itar-Tass.

Commenting on the talks between the Iranian and IAEA experts, Voronkov said, “This was the 11th round of consultations. We laud Iran’s drive after all rounds of talks and its intention to end the work on the document and clarify issues related to military components of the nuclear programme.”

In addition, Russia believes that the IAEA should back Iran’s readiness for the dialogue. “We urge the IAEA to use Iran’s drive to finalise the document and start practical efforts in this aspect,” Voronkov said.

“Unfortunately, we failed to agree,” he said. “The key issue today is to clarify the possession of military components by Iran to its nuclear programme in order to restore trust to Iran as a responsible member of the IAEA,” the Russian permanent representative said.

In his words, “The Agency Secretariat put forth several solutions to the problem. Iran agreed to study them to reach consensus on the next meeting and coordinate the document on the practical efforts.”

The date of the next round of talks will be coordinated later, Iranian representative to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh said on Wednesday, May 15.

The document is being discussed for 1.5 years. Experts say the access of IAEA experts to the Parchin military complex is one of the key objections. Western secret services report Iran produces and tests powerful explosions at the Parchin military complex. These explosions can be used to develop nuclear warheads. The IAEA seeks to get access to the complex.

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