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26 September 2013 - 22:48

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are set to hold a new round of talks over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

The meeting, the first of its kind under the administration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, is scheduled to be held on Friday in Vienna.

The negotiations will come hours after Thursday’s ministerial-level talks between Iran and the five permanent UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany in New York.

Reza Najafi, Iran's new IAEA ambassador, will head Tehran's negotiating team in Vienna.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and European Union using the claim as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions against Tehran.

Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, stressing that as a committed member of the IAEA and a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that the Iranian nuclear energy program has been diverted toward military objectives.

 

News ID 185351