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Roundup: IAEA decides to close nuclear weapons probe of Iran

Xinhua, December 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Board members of the United Nations nuclear agency on Tuesday adopted a resolution to close the investigation into whether Tehran once had a nuclear weapons program, upon a review of Iran's implementation of its commitments under a nuclear deal endorsed by the UN Security Council in July.

After a 12-year investigation of Iran's suspected nuclear plans, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) decided to close the process in light of the historic nuclear deal.

The development marks a positive step towards normalizing Iran's relations with the international community, analysts said.

Upon receipt of the IAEA report by board members verifying Iran's implementation of its relevant commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the probe of Tehran's past suspected nuclear activities will be finished, according to the resolution.

"All the activities in the roadmap for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran's nuclear program were implemented in accordance with the agreed schedule and further notes that this closes the board's consideration of this item," the resolution noted.

Back in November 2011, IAEA listed 12 areas of possible military dimensions (PMDs) of Iran's nuclear ambitions, noting Tehran might have carried out research and experiments to develop nuclear weapon. However, Tehran always denied the allegations, saying the information was forged and misleading.

An IAEA report issued this month suggested Iran carried out nuclear bomb research before 2003, but found no sign of weapons-related activities beyond 2009.

The latest resolution adopted Tuesday invalidates the past 12 resolutions the board members adopted in the past.

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano told the press conference that Iran and IAEA are working seriously to implement the deal, but it's hard to tell what day would be the implementation day, saying thousands of centrifuges has been removed while many are still needed to be removed.

He said the agency still need weeks to verify Iran's implementation of Tehran's relevant commitment under the deal after Tehran finishes the work.

"The Chinese delegation welcomes the resolution just adopted by the Board of Governors," said Cheng Jingye, China's ambassador to IAEA, in the board meeting, adding "We are confident that the adoption of the resolution will be positive in facilitating the smooth launch and implementation of the JCPOA... China expects that the Agency's resolution will turn a new chapter in its relationship with Iran." Endit