Iran Tells Japan It’s Ready To Talk On IAEA Inspections

The visit came after a confidential U.N. report said inspectors found two different types of highly-enriched nuclear particles at facilities in Iran that were not needed in civilian atomic programs.

The findings were contained in a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency that was handed to the nuclear watchdog’s board of governors Tuesday, August 26, ahead of a crucial meeting on Iran, a Western diplomat in Vienna told AFP.

Kharazi 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 minister was quoted as saying.

The protocol paves the way for surprise inspections of nuclear sites.

"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."

IAEA spokesman Mark Gwozdecky told AFP on Tuesday Iran had signaled it was ready to move towards signing the additional protocol.

Koizumi and Kharazi did not discuss a multi-billion dollar deal to develop the massive Azadegan oil field, situated in the southwest of the Islamic republic, the Japanese official said.

The United States is opposed to the deal.

Koizumi was quoted as saying: "Japan wants to maintain both Japan-U.S. friendship and Japan-Iran friendship."

Kharazi is to meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi late Thursday.

Kawaguchi told reporters Wednesday that Iran’s dealings with the IAEA would not hinder negotiations on the oil deal although Japan kept urging the Islamic nation to sign the additional protocol.

"Securing oil has been a very important policy goal for Japan," as the nation’s oil supply depends 99 percent on outside sources, she said.

Kharazi was also quoted as telling Koizumi on Thursday that "Iran is not planning to make nuclear weapons at all", while adding the nation had the right to have an atomic-power generating capability.

The Iranian minister also said he was concerned over the current situation in Iraq.

"We know how the Iraqi people are feeling now … They are probably happy to see the collapse of the Saddam Hussein regime but are not favoring the U.S. military occupation," he was quoted as saying.