Iran, IAEA to resolve Iranian atomic plan's key issues

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran agreed to take further steps to resolve the possible military dimensions of Tehran's nuclear programme, the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog announced Wednesday.

The UN nuclear watchdog has agreed with Iran on five practical measures to be implemented by Iran by Aug 25, 2014, including two concerning a long-stalled investigation into the allegation that Iran may make efforts to develop atomic weapons secretly, so-called the possible military dimensions (PMD) of its nuclear plan, Xinhua quoted an IAEA statement as saying.

The two new measures in next step of cooperation concerning probe into PMD issues are "exchanging information" with the agency on allegations related to the initiation of high explosives, and providing "mutually agreed relevant information and explanations" on neutron studies and "associated modelling and calculations and their alleged application to compressed materials".

The statement said "good progress" has been made on the seven practical measures of providing greater transparency of Iran's nuclear plan, which has already met its deadline May 15.

Under the landmark deal Iran and IAEA made last November, Tehran would provide greater transparency of its nuclear plan, resolving the unresolved issues concerning the allegation that Iran may make efforts to develop atomic weapons secretly.