IAEA chief in Tehran for nuke-related talks

TEHRAN (AFP): The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano has arrived in the Iranian capital Tehran for talks on the process of Iran’s nuclear deal implementation, state TV reported on Sunday.

The IAEA talks with the Iranian officials will focus on the verification and monitoring of the implementation of the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Press TV reported.

Amano’s talks would be about “political and nuclear topics related to the terms of the JCPOA,” Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, was quoted as saying.

“Amano is aware of Iran’s honesty and adherence to its obligations under the JCPOA and knows that we have not infringed or violated our tasks regarding nuclear issues,” Kamalvandi said.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump refused to formally certify Iran’s compliance with the nuclear accord. Washington has also demanded inspections of Iran’s military sites, which Tehran has rejected.

Kamalvandi urged the IAEA to fulfill its duties in a “professional and independent” way without giving in to the “political pressure.”