Clarification on Iran's alleged nuclear bomb research plan could be long: IAEA chief

The United Nations nuclear agency might need years to resolve Tehran's alleged nuclear weapon program with Iran's cooperation, the agency's chief said here on Monday.

In a press meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano, the head of the agency told reporters that the progress on the clarification regarding the so-called possible military dimensions (PMDs) of Iran's nuclear plan was still slow and it might take years to resolve the issue with Tehran.

IAEA said based on the "credible information" it had obtained, the agency identified 12 areas of so-called possible military dimensions (PMDs) of Iran's nuclear program, asking Tehran to clarify it.

Iran denied the allegation, saying the information was forged and misleading, but in November 2013, both sides agreed to cooperate to resolve the issue.

In a statement to the IAEA board meeting earlier, Amano said he was confident that clarification over Tehran's alleged nuclear weapon plan was possible if Iran implemented the measures envisaged in the Lausanne announcement, which was agreed by Iran and five world powers in April to promote the end-June final nuclear deal.

Iran and five United Nations Security Council permanent members plus Germany (P5+1) are seeking a long-term solution for the disputed Iranian nuclear issue by the end-June deadline. Endit