Iran pushes 'additional protocol' at nuclear talks

Tehran, Oct 16: Iran's nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said Wednesday that discussions on implementing an "additional protocol" is part of his country's nuclear proposal, Xinhua reported citing the semi-official ISNA news agency.

The additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) allows unexpected inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Araqchi, who is leading Iran's nuclear talks at the ongoing negotiations with the world powers in Geneva, told ISNA that the level of Iran's uranium enrichment and implementing "additional protocol" are parts of Iran's proposal included in its last stage.

Earlier, Iran had announced that it would put forward a three-stage proposal at the Geneva nuclear talks.

The proposal package, if agreed upon at the first stage, will automatically commit the other party to "the recognition of the uranium enrichment right on Iran's soil" as the objective of the negotiations, ISNA said.