Report: Iran says it will allow IAEA to inspect Arak reactor

TEHRAN, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Iran says it will permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to start inspecting a heavy-water reactor in Arak and a uranium mine, officials said.

An agreement to inspect the facilities was signed in Tehran Monday by Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization, and Yukiya Amano, director general of the IAEA, the semiofficial Fars News Agency reported.

Iranian officials said the agreement opened the way for inspections at the reactor and the Gachin uranium mine. It was described as "the Iranian government's new approach" on the nuclear issue, the report said.

Amano arrived in Tehran early Monday at Salehi's invitation to meet with Iranian officials "with the aim of strengthening dialogue and cooperation between the two sides," the news agency said.

Amano's visit came days after talks in Geneva, Switzerland, where the The P5-plus-1 countries (the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France -- and Germany) attempted to reach agreement with Iran on its nuclear activities. A decision was made to resume the talks Nov.20.