While on visit in Japan, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said on Thursday his country had decided to begin talks with the IAEA for inspections of its nuclear sites and was prepared to offer ”constructive” cooperation, according to a Japanese official, AFP reported.
Kharrazi, who arrived in Japan late on Wednesday after trips to India and China, handed over a letter from President Mohammad Khatami to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Kharrazi was quoted by the official as telling Koizumi that the letter from Khatami carried Iran’s basic policy on the nuclear issue and contained two main points.
“One is our plan to enhance cooperation with the IAEA and the other is our decision to launch negotiations towards signing an additional protocol,” to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Iran's top diplomat was quoted as saying by the Japanese official.
“Iran will secure transparency and offer constructive cooperation with the IAEA,” the minister was quoted as saying. “We hope the IAEA will make a professional judgment without being used for political purposes.”
Japan's Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi told reporters Wednesday that Iran's dealings with the International Atomic Energy Agency would not hinder negotiations on the multibillion-dollar deal to develop a massive oil field in Iran, regardless of the nuclear issue.
Kharrazi had visited Japan in January 2001 to take part in the international seminar on contribution to Afghan reconstruction and to hold talks with Japanese officials. Kawaguchi also paid a visit to Iran in May 2002. Kharrazi is to leave Japan on Friday.
(Albawaba.com)
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