United Nations atomic team in Iran for nuclear talks

TEHERAN (AFP) - A team from the UN atomic watchdog led by chief inspector Herman Nackaerts arrived early on Thursday for talks with nuclear officials on Iran's controversial nuclear programme, ISNA news agency reported.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says the aim of the talks is to sign an agreement on a "structured approach" giving IAEA inspectors broader access to sites, including the Parchin military site, and people working in Iran's nuclear programme.

The resumption of talks with the IAEA comes after several meetings since the start of 2012, all unsuccessful.

One Vienna diplomat said that this team is larger than in past visits to Teheran in February and in May, and now included two "technical experts" who could conduct verification work at Parchin - if invited.