IAEA chief to visit Tehran later this week

AFP: The head of the UN atomic watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, is to visit Tehran at the end of this week to try and clear up some of the outstanding issues surrounding Iran’s disputed nuclear programme, an agency spokeswoman said Monday. VIENNA (AFP) — The head of the UN atomic watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, is to visit Tehran at the end of this week to try and clear up some of the outstanding issues surrounding Iran’s disputed nuclear programme, an agency spokeswoman said Monday.

“Upon the invitation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Director-General (ElBaradei) will visit Tehran on January 11 and 12,” said International Atomic Energy Agency spokeswoman, Melissa Fleming.

“During the visit (ElBaradei) will meet with a number of high officials. He hopes that the visit will develop ways and means to enhance and accelerate implementation of safeguards in Iran, with a view of resolving all remaining outstanding issues and enabling the agency to provide assurance about Iran’s past and present nuclear activities.”