ElBaradei in Iran for talks over nuclear issue

Tehran, Oct 3 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei arrived in Iran Saturday for talks with Iranian officials over Tehran's nuclear programme, Iran's state radio reported.

During his stay in Iran, ElBaradei will meet Iranian officials and discuss Iran's nuclear programme with them, the report said.

According to Iran's English-language satellite channel Press TV, the IAEA chief was expected to meet Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, and other top nuclear officials Sunday.

The IAEA chief would not visit the new uranium enrichment facility during his stay in Iran this time, Press TV quoted an announcement of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) as saying.

The IAEA said Friday that ElBaradei had been invited to Tehran by Iranian authorities and would travel there to discuss with Iran about its second uranium enrichment facility near Qom.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili Thursday held talks with top envoys from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany in Geneva, Switzerland.

During the talks, Jalili promised that Tehran would soon open its newly disclosed uranium enrichment facility near Qom to UN inspectors, according to European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who coordinated the talks.

According to the EU official, the parties also agreed to hold a second round of meetings focusing on Iran's nuclear issue by the end of this month. (Xinhua)