UN nuclear chief 'positive' over Iran talks

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has begun talks in Tehran, after voicing optimism about reaching agreement on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme

Yukiya Amano, of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met Iran’s nuclear energy head and is to hold more talks with the nation’s top negotiator. Mr Amano’s visit comes ahead of a meeting in Baghdad between six world powers and Iran on Wednesday. Tehran denies claims by Western nations that it is developing a nuclear weapon. It has refused to provide the IAEA access to relevant sites, officials and documents for more than four years. Mr Amano kicked off his day of meetings by holding talks with Fereydoon Abbasi Davani, the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation. After the talks, Mr Abbasi Davani’s office issued a statement saying issues were raised “in a frank manner and proposals were made to remove ambiguities and to develop co-operation”, the AFP news agency reports.