IAEA, Iran begin third round of nuclear talks

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Source: CCTV.com | 08-21-2007 08:44

Mohammad Saeedi (2nd L), deputy of head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, smiles as he speaks with the IAEA deputy director Olli Heinonen (not in picture) during an official meeting in Tehran August 20, 2007. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl

Officials from the UN nuclear watchdog have begun their third round of talks with Iran. They're trying to resolve remaining issues surrounding Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

Iranian security officials expect a framework for settling the remaining issues to be drawn up during the two-day talks in Tehran.

The ongoing talks are critical because the outcome will be the basis for a progress report to be prepared by IAEA chief, Mohamed Elbaradei before the agency's key meeting in September.

Recommendations from that meeting may influence Western efforts to impose a new set of UN Security Council sanctions on Iran for ignoring demands that it stop its uranium enrichment programme.

Iranian officials hope El-Baradei's report will reflect the country's cooperation with the international community.