August 18, 2008 – The deputy head of the UN nuclear watchdog arrived in Tehran on Monday to discuss prospects for cooperation with Iran’s nuclear authorities.

The visit of Olli Heinonen, deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), follows his talks with Iranian officials in Tehran on August 7-8.

The parties did not give any details of the talks, but analysts said the new round of negotiations were likely to focus on Iran’s nuclear research activities.

Tehran has so far ruled out the suspension of uranium enrichment, which would trigger formal negotiations on an enhanced package of incentives proposed by the so-called Iran Six – the world powers involved in nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic. Iran is currently under three sets of relatively mild UN Security Council sanctions for defying demands to halt uranium enrichment.