August 24, 2011 - 14:47 AMT
IAEA officials visit Iranian nuclear sites

Deputy Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Safeguards Department Herman Nackaerts heading a delegation visited different nuclear sites in Iran, Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asqar Soltaniyeh said.

According to Fars News Agency, Nackaerts and his deputies visited Iran's nuclear sites over the past five days upon an invitation from the Islamic Republic.

Soltaniyeh said that the visit came following talks between Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Fereydoun Abbasi, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and IAEA's Director General Yukiya Amano.

During his tour, Nackaerts met with Abbasi to discuss ways of expanding ties between Tehran and the IAEA.

"Throughout the visit, I accompanied the [IAEA] delegation who visited the Bushehr nuclear power plant and the enrichment facilities in Natanz and Fordo," Soltaniyeh said.

The IAEA experts also toured the nuclear sites in Isfahan, including the nuclear fuel rods production factory, as well as the heavy water research reactor in Arak and the city's heavy water production plant, the Iranian official added.

Soltaniyeh described Iran's invitation as yet another sign of Tehran's determination for transparent cooperation with the IAEA.