PHOTO: International Atomic Energy Agency head Yukiya Amano and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, August 2014


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As negotiations in Vienna between Iran and the 5+1 Powers seek a nuclear deal, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, is visiting Tehran on Thursday to discuss some of the remaining issues.

Amano is expected to meet President Rouhani after seeing the head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani. Discussions will focus on the scope of IAEA inspections of Iranian facilities, including the headline topic of whether the Agency can visit military sites.

Amano with Shamkhani this morning:

AMANO SHAMKHANI

In early May, the IAEA head elevated the issue when he said that Iran must allow unlimited access to the sites after it adhered to the Additional Protocol of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iranian officials, including the Supreme Leader, responded that no inspections or questioning of nuclear scientists would be permitted.

In recent weeks, there have been signs of a compromise. There is unlikely to be any mention of military sites in the final nuclear agreement, merely a reference to the Additional Protocol. That would leave the question of access to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Although Iran is still publicly declaring a blanket prohibition, statements from both Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US officials have signaled the compromise.

The IAEA gave another boost to the talks on Wednesday with its latest report on the state of Iran’s nuclear program. It announced that Tehran has reduced its stockpile of 5% uranium below a cap set in a November 2013 interim agreement.

The report put the stockpile at 7,537 kg at the end of June, below the ceiling of about 7,650 kg.

Critics of a nuclear deal with Iran had cited a May report from the IAEA, showing a 9% increase in the stockpile, as evidence that Tehran can not be trusted.

The Islamic Republic already converted all of its 20% enriched uranium to oxide power or fuel plates, removing it from potential military use.

While in Tehran, Amano is also likely to discuss fulfillment of a February 2014 agreement between the IAEA and Iran over inspections and information. While Tehran has met most of the conditions, the IAEA says it is still withholding details on explosive bridge-wire detonators, which could be used for a nuclear weapon.

Meanwhile in Vienna, the Foreign Ministers and political deputies of Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia) are continuing their pursuit of a final deal by a revised deadline of July 7. Meetings on Wednesday included lengthy discussions between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, US Secretary of State John Kerry, and their political and technical teams.


Central Bank: 13 Tons of Gold Released to Iran Amid Nuclear Talks

Iran has secured the release of 13 tons of its gold, blocked in South Africa under US-led sanctions, according to Central Bank Governor Valiollah Seif.

The Bank said the repatriation came after the Iranian negotiating team at the Vienna nuclear talks pursued the issue.

“An equivalent of 13 tons of gold purchased before and held in South Africa over the past two years due to sanctions and certain obstructions arrived in the country in three consignments and was delivered to the CBI treasury,” Seif said.

The transfer took place over the past week with the last consignment of four tons arriving in Tehran on Tuesday night, he added.

According to the CBI, the removal of sanctions and Iran’s unfettered access to its assets abroad is one of the main objectives of the country’s negotiating team in nuclear talks.

Up to $100 billion of Iranian assets, mostly from oil sales, are blocked overseas. Under interim agreements since November 2013, about $700 million has been unfrozen per month.