PARIS (KUNA) -- The failure to get a conclusive outcome in last week's talks between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran is "a new missed opportunity" for the Iranian regime to progress towards abiding by its international obligations, a senior French official said here on Tuesday.
Commenting on the stalled talks, whereby the IAEA is seeking information on and access to Iran's controversial nuclear programme, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said Iran must conform with the will of the international community as expressed through UN Security Council resolutions and those of the IAEA Board of Governors.

These two bodies have numerous times called on Tehran to immediately halt uranium enrichment and to answer "pending questions" on its programme and allay suspicions the civil nuclear programme in Iran has a military dimension.

Iran denies any intention to develop a nuclear weapon and insists on its right to develop civil nuclear energy, a right that is not disputed by the international community.

The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions since 2006, urging Iran to stop its enrichment programme and also to allow unfettered access to its nuclear sites in Fordow, near Qoms, Arak and Natanz, among others.

The IAEA says it is only getting partial cooperation and that it has been refused access to the military site of Parchin, where it is alleged some nuclear development activities have taken place.

Iran's non-compliance with the resolutions has led to stiff sanctions by a number of countries, led by the European Union, the United States and other Western allies.

The failure to progress in the bilateral IAEA-Iranian meetings is also likely to affect the multi-lateral "5+1" talks between Iran and the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany.

Those talks have also stalled and an offer by the international community to resume meetings at the end of January has not yet been answered by Tehran.

"A date for a new meeting has been proposed. It is up to Iran to respond," Lalliot said.

Whatever the answer, the official stressed that the aim of both parallel processes is "for Iran to conform to its international obligations".

By Kuwait News Agency

 

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