Deal with Iran good first step, IAEA director general says

VIENNA, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said Friday an interim nuclear deal with Iran was an important step but "there is still a long way to go" to allay concerns.

Amano briefed the board of governors for the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna on a joint action plan regarding Iran's nuclear program.

"This will be a further important step towards achieving a comprehensive solution to the Iran nuclear issue," he said in his opening remarks. "But there is still a long way to go."

The joint action plan between Iran and the seven IAEA member states outlines additional monitoring and verification measures for inspectors from the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.

Iran is suspected of pursuing the technology needed to make a nuclear weapon, an allegation it denies. Iran agreed to suspend some nuclear research activity under the terms of a separate deal made in November with Western powers.

Amano said the IAEA needed at least $7.4 million for the next six months to help carry out the joint action plan with Iran.

Iran's deal with the IAEA is voluntary. The director general said he'd update the board on the progress of the arrangement at its next meeting in March.