Talks between a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iranian nuclear officials began in Tehran on Wednesday, in the latest effort to resolve differences over Iran's nuclear projects.
In the talks, held at the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, the IAEA team headed by chief inspector Herman Nackaerts is to press for access to suspect documents, nuclear officials and especially the Parchin military base, where nuclear weapons parts have allegedly been tested.
Tehran said Tuesday IAEA inspection of the Parchin base near Tehran would be possible if the country's right to a civilian nuclear programme were acknowledged.
In a series of meetings over the past year, both sides have been unable to agree on the conditions under which such investigations would go forward.
Iran is to resume nuclear negotiations with the six world powers later this month in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the results of talks with the IAEA could have an impact on a possible settlement of the dispute which has been going on for more than a decade.