UN nuclear body to hold talks with Iran in December

The UN nuclear agency said on Friday it would hold a new round of atomic talks with Iran in Tehran on December 13, confirming an earlier Reuters report.

"The aim is to conclude the structured approach to resolving outstanding issues related to Iran's nuclear programme," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spokeswoman Gill Tudor said in response to a question.

She was referring to an agreement that would allow the IAEA to resume a long-stalled investigation into possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme. Iran says its programme is entirely peaceful.

The IAEA hopes to use the talks to reach an agreement that would allow it to resume a long-stalled investigation into possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear programme, a senior diplomatic source said.

Iran denies Western allegations that it is trying to develop the capability to make nuclear weapons. The last round of talks between the IAEA and Iran which took place in August failed to make concrete progress. "The agency and Iran agreed to have talks mid-December," the source told Reuters, adding they would take place in Tehran.