Iran’s Foreign Minister says Yukiya Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has requested a meeting with Iranian officials in advance of the Baghdad talks between Iran and the world powers.
Ali Akbar Salehi states that Amano is to meet with Saeed Jalili, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator and the head of Iran’s Supreme Council of National Security, as well as Fereydoon Abbasi, the head of Iran’s nuclear agency.
Salehi told IRNA that Amano’s trip is the result of an invitation he had extended to him last year during his visit to Vienna.
He added that he regards Amano’s trip as a positive step and looks at it as an opportunity to set up the new framework to clear up ambiguities and questions of concern for the agency.
Amano will travel to Iran on Sunday to meet with Iranian officials on Monday.
The IAEA and Iranian nuclear negotiators met last Monday in Vienna. Another meeting set for the coming week in Vienna has now been cancelled.
Some analysts regard Amano’s trip to Iran as an indication that a resolution has been reached in the nuclear disputes with Iran.
Iran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful, but the IAEA says it needs more inspection access to Iran’s nuclear facilities in order to confirm this.
