UN atomic agency to hold December talks with Iran
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VIENNA (AFP) - The United Nations (UN) atomic agency said on Friday it will hold next month its first talks with Iran since August over Teheran's nuclear efforts, in a first sign of renewed diplomatic activity since the United States (US) election.
"The aim is to conclude the structured approach to resolving outstanding issues related to Iran's nuclear programme," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spokesman Gill Tudor said in confirming the Dec 13 meeting.
The Vienna-based IAEA wants Teheran to address evidence suggesting that until 2003, and possibly since, Iran conducted research work "relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device."
A parallel diplomatic push by six world powers has been aimed at persuading Iran to scale back parts of its current nuclear programme because of suspicions - denied by Teheran - that it wants the bomb.
