Iran invites IAEA to visit Arak heavy-water production plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has received an invitation from Iran to visit Iran's Arak heavy-water production plant Dec 8, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said here Thursday.

Under a Framework for Cooperation with Iran, signed Nov 11, Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog agreed "to strengthen their cooperation and dialogue aimed at ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme through the resolution of all outstanding issues," reported Xinhua citing Amano in a statement to the IAEA Board of Governors.

The Framework for Cooperation, which includes implementing six practical measures within three months, is an important step forward, but much more needs to be done, he said. "I look forward to reporting further progress, including on implementation of the six practical measures, to the Board next March."

A letter, sent to him from EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the P5+1 group, concerning the Joint Plan of Action agreed with Iran Sunday in Geneva, highlighted the important role of IAEA in the verification of the nuclear-related measures which were agreed in Geneva, Amano said.

The IAEA was considering how the elements of the Joint Plan of Action relevant to the Agency could be put into practice and this analysis would take some time, he said.

The Arak facility produces heavy water for a nearby research reactor still under construction where Iran says it plans to make medical isotopes, though other nations such as Israel suspect that it may be able to produce weapons-grade plutonium.