Iran says IAEA report shows peaceful nature of nuclear programme

Tehran has consistently denied that it had a nuclear weapons program of any nature.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog produced a report on Wednesday on whether Iran’s past nuclear activities had anything to do with nuclear weapons, an assessment required under a landmark deal with six major powers that could lead to a lifting of sanctions.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s report was significant in coming down on the side of allegations by the US and other nations critical of Iran’s nuclear program that Tehran engaged in trying to make such arms.

The IAEA report will let Iran accelerate implementation of the agreement by giving it a green light to export more than 8,000 kilograms (17,636 pounds) of enriched uranium.

“The Agency has found no credible indications of the diversion of nuclear material in connection with the possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme”.

“Our nuclear research… was always according to standard and only had peaceful aims”, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

The agency said Iran’s weapons related activities before 2009 were limited to feasibility and scientific studies, and to the acquisition of specific nuclear weapons related capabilities.

Iran believes that means the IAEA should say the matter is now closed, but Western countries have been guarded about the content of the resolution, saying it will depend on the IAEA’s findings. But it only committed Tehran to timetables in providing explanations and information of its own choosing to the agency in time to allow the IAEA to draw up its December report.

On the same day, a roadmap for “the clarification of past and present outstanding issues” regarding Iran’s nuclear program was signed by Amano and Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi in the Austrian capital.

It said differences with Iran remained over a building at the Parchin military complex, where Iran has been accused of carrying out high explosives testing.

It also said it had not received any new information on several points of its investigation since 2011.