IAEA to finalize Iran probe by mid-December: Amano
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Yukiya Amano says a probe into Iran’s past nuclear activities will be ready on time, dismissing speculations that the body could extend the December 15 target date to complete its investigations.
“I don't have a particular concern that we’ll not be able to complete a final assessment by December 15th and our assessment will be factual and impartial,” Amano told reporters during a briefing in Vienna on Monday.
The comments came in response to claims that the terms of a July 14 road map signed between Iran and the IAEA are weak and can enable Tehran to conceal some facts about its past nuclear activities. They say the foreseen period for the probe, which ends on December 15, 2015, is short and the UN agency could not finish its job.
However, Amano said Iran has successfully met its obligations, including an August-15 deadline for sending written explanations on its past activities. Amano had previously noted that Tehran has provided the IAEA with substantive amount of information. He said on Monday that the IAEA will send follow-up questions to Tehran on September 15, further advancing the probe.
The UN atomic chief again repeated his claims about Parchin, a military site southeast of Tehran, which some world powers insist that should be covered by the IAEA inspections. He said “much work needs to be done” to finish the probe, but reiterated that the investigations will be complete by mid-December, as agreed in the road map.
The completion of the probe is one of the key conditions for Tehran to have the financial and oil sanctions lifted. According to the terms of an agreement reached between Iran and the US, Britain, Germany, France, China and Russia in Vienna on July 15, restrictions will be imposed on Tehran’s nuclear work in return for relief from international sanctions.
Western diplomats familiar with the IAEA’s nuclear monitoring process told the Bloomberg on Monday that they expect the embargoes to be lifted within the first three months of 2016.
According to three of the diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the IAEA process will be in place by January or February. The fourth official said it could take until March 2016 for Tehran to obtain the much-anticipated ease from the sanctions.
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