VIENNA — The UN nuclear watchdog said Tuesday it would seek in talks in Iran this week to bridge differences that have prevented it restarting an investigation into the Islamic state's atomic activities. The agency has been trying for more than a year to revive its inquiry into suspected nuclear weapons research by Iran, which denies Western allegations that it is seeking to develop the capability to make atomic bombs. “Differences remain ... we will work hard to try to resolve these differences,” Herman Nackaerts, deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said at Vienna airport as he and his team of senior IAEA officials were departing for the Iranian capital for Wednesday's meeting. World powers will watch the IAEA-Iran talks for signs that Tehran may finally be ready to start addressing their concerns over its nuclear program, which Tehran says is peaceful but the West fears is aimed at developing weapons. On Feb. 26, Iran and the six big powers are due, after a break of eight months to resume separate, broader negotiations in Kazakhstan aimed at finding a diplomatic settlement to the decade-old dispute. In Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Iran was ready to come to a “comprehensive agreement” on IAEA inspections if its nuclear rights were recognized. — Reuters
