IAEA 'fails' to reach deal on probing Iranian nuclear sites

Vienna, June 9 (ANI): The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that it had failed to reach an agreement with Iran on gaining access to suspected atomic research sites.

Officials of the UN nuclear watchdog called the outcome of Friday's meeting "disappointing" and said Iran appeared to retreat from commitments it had made during earlier meetings in Tehran.

"There has been no progress, and indeed Iran raised issues that we have already discussed and added new ones," The Washington Post quoted Herman Nackaerts, the IAEA deputy director general, as saying.

The IAEA has been particularly eager to visit Iran's Parchin military base, where scientists are alleged to have tested explosive triggers for nuclear weapons inside a large, tanker-shaped test chamber.

The setback in negotiations occurred less than three weeks after IAEA officials claimed success in persuading Iran to grant its inspectors access to key facilities, and scientists said to have been involved in the weapons research.

Meanwhile, the report said that no date was set for future negotiations, which were aimed at clearing up a years-long dispute over allegations of secret nuclear weapons research conducted by Iran. (ANI)