Publish Date: 20 November 2012 - 23:24

UN nuclear chief Yukiya Amano says “it is important to continue to seek a diplomatic solution” to the issues related to Iran’s nuclear energy program.

“We are going to have a high-level dialogue with Iran on the 13th of December in Tehran. The way to solve this issue is by diplomatic means and we will continue our efforts,” Amano told reporters after talks with French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Monday.

The director general of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) further noted that “the declared material and installation facilities [of Iran] are under the IAEA safeguards and we can verify that they stay in a peaceful purpose.”


The last round of negotiations between Iran and the IAEA was held in the Austrian capital of Vienna on August 24, 2012.

Iran and the IAEA had also held talks in Vienna on May 14 and 15. Before that session, the two sides' representatives had held two rounds of talks in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in February and January.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran argues that as a signatory to Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the IAEA, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities, but has never found any evidence indicating diversion in Tehran's nuclear energy program toward military purposes.
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