Iran may sign IAEA’s additional guarantee protocol

Iran may grant IAEA experts access to its nuclear facilities through joining the IAEA’s additional guarantee protocol. A diplomatic source familiar with Iran’s negotiations with IAEA shared some information regarding the latest round of the talks which was held September 27 with Itar-Tass. He said that the new Iranian team is concerned with the document of the “so-called access modality, which has been edited throughout the last year and a half.” “However, practical work cannot begin without documents,” he noted. The spokesman added that access levels of inspectors can be regulated by an additional IAEA guarantee protocol, outlining inspection criteria. “Iran may join the additional protocol. Previously Iranians refused to work according to these documents, but now they’re conveying a message that they’re likely to examine this option,” the source said. Commenting on the September 27 talks between IAEA experts and Iran’s delegation in Vienna, where sides reached an agreement to being “substantial negotiations,” the source claimed that the “agency is filled with optimism which hasn’t been felt for a long while.” “However, a concrete agenda is required for the next meeting. If there is one, the situation will develop normally,” he concluded.