Iran won’t cooperate on nuclear probe

VIENNA – Hopes dimmed Friday of Iran fulfilling a key U.S. demand at nuclear talks by cooperating with a probe of allegations that it secretly worked on nuclear arms.

Yukiya Amano, head of the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency, said his meetings with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani resulted in a “better understanding on some ways forward” but that “more work will be needed.” The formulation of his statement was similar to previous ones issued by the IAEA, which has struggled for nearly a decade to resolve its concerns.

Amano’s trip Thursday to Tehran was significant because it represented his last chance to secure access and cooperation before a July 7 deadline for a long-term nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers.

Rouhani also provided no hint of substantial progress. Iran has previously acknowledged some activities like experiments with detonators, but says those activities had no connection to exploding a nuclear device and were instead developed for industrial purposes.

Associated Press