Iran nuclear talks collapse: IAEA

The UN's nuclear watchdog and Iran have failed to come to an agreement after two days of talks in Tehran over the Islamic Republic's disputed nuclear program, the UN agency said in a statement.

Iran reportedly refused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to an military site at Parchin, southeast of the capital Tehran, leading to the collapse of negotiations.

"During both the first and second round of discussions, the agency team requested access to the military site at Parchin. Iran did not grant permission for this visit to take place," the Vienna-based IAEA said in a statement.

"It is disappointing that Iran did not accept our request to visit Parchin. We engaged in a constructive spirit, but no agreement was reached," said IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano.

Earlier, Iran's envoy to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, told the country's ISNA news agency that Tehran expected to hold more talks with the UN agency, whose task it is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons in the world.

But Amano's spokeswoman, Gill Tudor, made clear no further meetings were planned: "At this point in time there is no agreement on further discussions," she said.

Iran rejects accusations that its nuclear program is a covert bid to develop a nuclear weapons capability, saying it is seeking to produce only electricity.

Despite the IAEA's efforts to rein in Iran's nuclear program, it has failed to address regional concerns on Israel's nuclear arsenal, the only state to possess nuclear weapons in the Middle East.

Iran shrugged off Western pressure, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying on Wednesday that Iran's nuclear course would not change regardless of international sanctions or assassinations.

"With God's help, and without paying attention to propaganda, Iran's nuclear course should continue firmly and seriously...Pressures, sanctions, and assassinations will bear no fruit. No obstacles can stop Iran's nuclear work."

Khamenei was speaking on state television shortly after the UN nuclear watchdog declared the collapse in talks with Iran.

Several Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed in bombings over the past two years, attacks that Tehran has blamed on arch-adversary Israel.

The US and EU have imposed sanctions this year targeting Iran's oil industry, but have so far failed to win support from Asian giants – Iran's biggest customers – while domestic oil prices surge.

Iran in response slapped a preemptive oil sales ban on several EU states, including Britain, France, and debt-plagued Greece.

Iran's Deputy Oil Minister, Ahmad Qalebani, said on Wednesday it would lower its oil exports if it sees demand for its crude dropping and will not sell to any company that sells it to Britain or France.

"Iran will not sell its oil to any company that gives its oil to Britain or France," Qalebani was quoted as saying.

Separately, the official IRNA news agency quoted Qalebani as saying Iran would still be willing to deal with French and British companies provided they do not take Iranian crude to their own countries.

(Reuters, Al-Akhbar)