TEHRAN, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The way to renewed nuclear negotiations with the U.N. Security Council is through expressions of goodwill, an Iranian official said.
Iranian nuclear negotiators meet Thursday with representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran is suspected of pursuing the technology needed to develop a nuclear weapon, though Tehran said it's moving ahead according to its international rights to peaceful research.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Abbas Araqchi said the government is waiting to hear from Britain, China, France Germany, Russia and the United States, members of the so-called P5+1, on a possible round of talks.
"Our proposals to the P5+1 are clear and they should respond to us. If they show goodwill, the way is open to talks and to prove their goodwill they can start with the steps we have already said," he was quoted by Iran's state-funded broadcaster Press TV as saying.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had said his country opposes weapons of mass destruction. The IAEA, however, said it was unable to confirm that all of Iran's nuclear work was for peaceful purposes.
IAEA Chief Inspector Herman Nackaerts told Bloomberg News that he wanted access to the Parchin military complex near Tehran.
"This trip is to reach agreement on a structured approach to resolve the outstanding issues related to possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program," he said. "If Iran would grant us access we would welcome that chance and we are ready to go."
