Ali Akbar Salehi, (on the right) said that Iran and the IAEA have reached an understanding on PMDs. PHOTO: Wikipedia.

The chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said that an understanding has been reached between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Association over the issue of possible military dimensions (PMDs) of Iran’s nuclear program, the Middle East Media Research Institute reported on Wednesday.

In an interview with an Iranian news channel on July 21, Ali Akbar Salehi said the understanding reached with the IAEA was “political.” As a result, according to Salehi, the nuclear watchdog can no longer “do whatever it wants” to address the issue.

Salehi said that the matter would be resolved with the IAEA by December 15, and that the deal struck by Iran and world powers in Vienna this month would be implemented independently of the IAEA’s reporting on the PMD issue.

He said Iran’s “understandings with the IAEA” would yield “positive results” for the country.

The matter of PMDs was originally included in the talks between the P5+1 powers and Iran.

Consistent with Iranian policy denying the existence of any military nuclear program in the country, Salehi also dismissed the concerns over PMDs as a nonissue.

He said the IAEA’s concerns would only be addressed in order to deny international monitors “any pretext” for future inspections.