Iran optimistic about IAEA visit: foreign minister

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on Sunday said that Tehran was optimistic about the visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the country.

He told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing 18th African Union summit held here that Iran is ready to answer any concerns raise by the IAEA. "We will eventually show that Iran is a faithful member of the IAEA and shall remain so and that our nuclear activities are transparent. There is nothing obscure in our nuclear activities. We have proved this for the past 10 years," he said. A high-ranking IAEA delegation arrived in Iran on Sunday and will pay a visit to Iranian nuclear facilities. The visit comes amid strong sanctions by the U.S. and possible sanctions from the European Union as they try to convince Iran to give up its nuclear program they claim is being used to develop arms. Iran says it is enriching uranium to generate electricity.

Salehi said that instead of western powers tightening their sanctions on Iran, they should resort to negotiations.

"My advice to them is try engagement rather than sanctions and see how Iran responds. We are promoters of engagement and we are for engagement," he said.

He said there are indications that negotiations are being preferred compared to tightening of sanctions.

"I think a new environment is being produced through the IAEA visit to Iran, the Russian initiative of 'step by step' and the 5+ 1 talks that will be held possibly in the future," he said.