Iran has given the U.N. nuclear agency documents linked to a probe of allegations that Tehran tried to develop atomic weapons, meeting a key deadline to potentially satisfy a condition for sanctions relief under an accord reached with world powers last month.
"Iran today provided the IAEA with its explanation in writing and related documents as agreed in the road map for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran's nuclear program," the International Atomic Energy Agency said Saturday, confirming Iran had met a deadline.
The information also included a confidential explanation that is unlikely to veer from previous Iranian denials of work on such weapons.
The July 14 nuclear deal's main goal is curbing Iran's present nuclear program that could be used to make weapons. But a subsidiary element obligates Tehran to cooperate with the IAEA in its probe of the allegations.
The investigation has been deadlocked for years, with Tehran asserting that the allegations about the possible militarization of its past nuclear activities are based on false intelligence from the U.S., Israel and other adversaries.
But Iran and the U.N. agency agreed last month to wrap up the investigation by December, when the IAEA plans to issue a final assessment on the allegations. Saturday was the target date for Tehran to provide the agency documents related to the probe and its version of what they mean.
Western diplomats from IAEA member nations who are familiar with the probe are doubtful that Tehran will diverge from claiming that all its nuclear activities are — and were — peaceful, despite what they say is evidence to the contrary.
The IAEA says it takes no information at face value.
Under the road map, the IAEA could ask Tehran to provide more clarification by October 15 so the agency can write a final report by the end of the year.
Full sanctions relief can go ahead only once the IAEA says Iran has complied not only with requests about its nuclear past but also with a range of measures to shrink its current atomic program.
