IAEA renews pressure on Iran after "terrorist" outburst

The U.N. nuclear agency pressed Iran on Tuesday to address concerns about suspected bomb research, saying it was ready for talks soon and avoiding any mention of Tehran's allegation that "terrorists" may have infiltrated the Vienna-based watchdog.    

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued a statement on a meeting between IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Iranian nuclear energy head Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani on Monday, which was held just hours after Abbasi-Davani sharply criticized the U.N. body in a speech to its annual assembly.    

Amano said it was essential for Iran to cooperate with his inspectors to clarify suspicions about possible military dimensions to its nuclear program, a charge Tehran rejects.    

He told Abbasi-Davani that the IAEA "is committed to continued dialogue with the Islamic Republic of Iran and expressed the readiness of agency negotiators to meet with Iran's in the near future", the statement said.        

The U.N. agency has been seeking to resume a long-stalled investigation into Iran's atomic activities, but talks that began in January have made little headway, with the two sides disagreeing on how it should be carried out.