Solution possibly on horizon over Iran dossier - IAEA

VIENNA, Nov 18 (KUNA) -- In a meeting with Arab ambassadors Monday, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano hinted that a solution for the standoff over Tehran's nuclear dossier could possibly be in the horizon.
According to a senior source, who attended the Amano-Arab meeting, the IAEA chief expressed "cautious optimism" over talk of a near deal over Iran's nuclear program, pointing out the agency's experts are meeting Iranian counterparts in Vienna on December 11.
Amano, he said, stressed noticeable slowdown in Iranian nuclear activity recently could mean access for IAEA inspectors to visit certain nuclear sites soon to dispel suspicion of military-related activity.
The Arab diplomat further remarked that Amano thus joins Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US officials in saying a deal is possible between Iran and both the IAEA and the 5+1 group. Though working on different tracks, the two blocs demand Iran provide guarantees its nuclear program solely serves peaceful purposes.
The IAEA chief issued a report last Thursday in which he announced that Iran had stopped a previously launched rapid expansion in uranium enrichment activity. The report also said Iran had not installed any main components at the suspected Arak reactor since August, when Hassan Rouhani took office as president.
This could give a boost to diplomatic efforts aiming to end the controversy.
Amano described a recently agreed cooperation framework as a big step forward, pointing out Iran has agreed to continue cooperation with inspectors to settle recently-raised as well as older concerns and to actually take the preliminary practical steps in this regard within three months.
The latest Amano report indicated other issues not covered by this deal would be addressed at a later stage, including concerns raised in previous reports presented by the IAEA Director General to the Board of Governors.
The Amano report was issued the same week Iran agreed to allow IAEA inspectors access to two nuclear facilities, part of the cooperation framework. (end) amq.wsa KUNA 181104 Nov 13NNNN