A new round of talks between
Tehran and the U.N.'s nuclear agency will be held in Vienna on May 13-14,
Iran's state TV reported Saturday in a signal of possible progress after
separate negotiations resumed with world powers over the country's controversial
nuclear program.
The technical talks in Vienna with the
International Atomic Energy Agency come in addition to negotiations with the
six world powers U.S., Britain, France,
Russia, China and Germany set for May 23
in Baghdad.
Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's chief
delegate to the IAEA, said the talks will focus on resolving
"questions" about Tehran's alleged attempt to develop nuclear
weapons.
Iran and the IAEA have been at loggerheads
over the agency's inspections of Iranian military sites. IAEA inspectors have
demanded access to a military complex where the agency suspects secret atomic
work has been carried out. Iran says inspectors will be allowed to visit the
Parchin military site as a goodwill gesture, but it would require agreement
between the two sides on guidelines for the inspection.
IAEA officials have said satellite photos
of Parchin show an apparent clean-up under way, adding they fear protracted
talks on a framework for the visit could be a delaying tactic.
Iran has rejected such allegations as
misleading, saying any alleged radioactive traces could not be cleaned up.
The TV quoted Soltanieh as saying that
talks will be held at the offices of Iran's mission to the IAEA in the Austrian
capital. They follow previous rounds of talks in January and February.
The U.S. and some of its allies accuse
Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear
weapons. Iran has denied the charges, saying its nuclear program is peaceful
and aimed at producing electricity and radioisotopes to treat cancer patients.
AP