IAEA inspectors probably visit Iran within month

TEHRAN - Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said Saturday inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will probably visit Iran within one month, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Iran voluntarily invited IAEA inspectors and deputy director general to visit the country's nuclear facilities and equipments, spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.

He stated that the invitation shows Iran's "transparent" nuclear activities and goodwill in its commitments, adding Iran is serious to keep its "legal nuclear rights."

Iran's permanent representative in IAEA Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said on December 21 that the Islamic Republic had invited IAEA inspectors to visit the country's nuclear establishments.

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said early January Iran is ready to resume nuclear talks with G5+1 (five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany).

Salehi made the remarks at a joint press with his visiting Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu. Salehi said the talks could start after both sides agree on the time and venue.

Salehi said Turkey had announced its readiness to host the new round of talks with the world's powers.

Relations between Iran and the west has deteriorated in the past several months over a string of issues, including Iran's alleged role in a plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington, attacks on the British Embassy in Tehran, the latest International Atomic Energy Agency report on the Iranian nuclear program, disputes over a US drone captured by Iran, and Iran's repeated threat to close the Strait of Hormuz if its oil exports are sanctioned.

Nuclear talks in January 2011 between Iran and the G5+1 in Istanbul failed to reach any agreement as Tehran rejected any notion of suspending uranium enrichment in exchange for trade and technology benefits.