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Roundup: Tehran should answer questions to clarify nuclear plans: IAEA chief

Xinhua, March 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Iran should answer questions about its alleged nuclear weapons program from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) instead of trying to verify them, the agency's chief said Monday.

Yukiya Amano, head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, said the IAEA is ready to accelerate clarification of outstanding issues over Iran's nuclear plans.

The question is whether Iran will answer IAEA's questions, he added.

"It's upside down -- Iran needs not to verify our information. We have asked clear questions and they can answer," Amano told reporters after a board meeting.

The IAEA and Iran have made no tangible progress in the past months in clarifying some key elements of outstanding issues relating to Tehran's nuclear plans.

IAEA said the verification process is stalled as Iran failed to provide key information to the agency.

"Iran has yet to provide explanations that enable the agency to clarify two outstanding practical measures," Amano told the board meeting earlier.

However, Iran noted it was not responsible for the stalled investigation, casting doubt over the source of the "possible military dimensions (PMDs)" of its nuclear program. Tehran has maintained such allegations were baseless.

IAEA refuses to unveil the source of the PMDs of Iran's nuclear program, identified in 12 areas in the agency's November 2011 report based on "credible" information from member states and the agency itself.

To promote cooperation between Iran and the IAEA, Amano met with top Iranian officials last month, with both sides calling the meetings "useful."

Under an interim deal inked between Iran and the world's major countries in November 2013, Tehran suspended certain nuclear activities in return for limited easing of sanctions, as all sides continue working towards a comprehensive deal.

Western states insist Iran must come clean about its alleged nuclear bomb research if it wants to put an end to the decade-old issue. Iran said its nuclear program is peaceful and the allegation is baseless. Endit