UN Investigation of Iranian Nuclear Program May Slow Talks
(Times of Israel / Worthy News)– The head of the UN nuclear agency suggested Monday that a probe of suspected atomic arms work by Iran may stretch into next year — which would push Tehran’s overall nuclear agreement with world powers long past the July 20 target date.
The International Atomic Energy Agency investigation is formally separate from six-power talks with Iran that are meant to build on a first step-accord struck late last year and focus on substantially trimming Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for full sanctions relief.
The US and its western allies at the negotiating table insist that Iran and the IAEA must wrap up the investigation as part of the overall nuclear agreement that Iran and the powers want to finalize by July 20.
After years of deadlock, Iran recently submitted documents to the IAEA for the first time, to back its claim that its tests with a special kind of detonator were meant only for civilian purposes.
Iran denies any interest in nuclear arms. But agency officials say they have other documentation indicating that those experiments were linked to research on setting off a nuclear charge.