IAEA chief heads to Iran as nuclear talks extended

The global nuclear watchdog has said its head would fly to Tehran to discuss some of the last big issues that need to be resolved so that Iran and world powers can reach a breakthrough final nuclear deal by a new deadline of next week.

Iran and six world powers gave themselves an extra week on Tuesday to reach an accord that would curb Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for relief from economic sanctions, after it became clear that a June 30th deadline would not be met. Despite the lapsed deadline, diplomats have given upbeat assessments of the prospects for a deal.

US secretary of state John Kerry and Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held one-on-one talks on Wednesday.

“We have some very difficult issues, but we believe we are making progress and we are going to continue to work because of that,” Mr Kerry told reporters. Mr Zarif said the talks were making progress and would continue to do so.

Western countries suspect Iran of seeking the capability to make a nuclear weapon. Tehran says its programme is peaceful.

The effort to resolve the dispute has led to the most intense diplomacy between the United States and Iran since Iranian revolutionaries stormed the US embassy in Tehran in 1979.

A final accord to resolve the standoff would be a major policy achievement for both US president Barack Obama and Iran's president Hassan Rouhani, but both presidents face scepticism from hardliners at home.

Mr Obama said on Tuesday no deal would be agreed unless it blocked all Iranian pathways to developing a nuclear bomb, and ensured a robust monitoring system was in place.

Ministers and officials from the five UN Security Council permanent members – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States – plus Germany have been negotiating with Iran in Vienna at late night sessions.

Among the main sticking points that remain to be resolved are issues that involve the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. The powers want guaranteed access by IAEA inspectors to Iranian military sites and a response to IAEA queries about Tehran's past activities that may have been related to weapons research.

The global body said in a statement that its chief Yukiya Amano would meet Mr Rouhani and other senior officials on Thursday in Iran.

Discussions would cover “how to accelerate the resolution of all outstanding issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme, including clarification of possible military dimensions”.

A senior Iranian negotiator, deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, said of the Vienna talks: “There are still some issues that we have not been able to resolve but the atmosphere of the talks is positive.”

Western diplomats say they are nearing a resolution on access for the inspectors. Iranian officials maintain that military sites are off-limits due to a red line set by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who wields more power than Mr Rouhani, the elected president.

Iran has been accused of stonewalling the IAEA probe on its past activities, and western officials have said some of the sanctions relief would depend on Iran’s cooperation.

But diplomats say Iran will be reluctant to open up to IAEA investigators until the punitive sanctions are lifted.

– (Reuters)