Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis    

    TEHRAN, May 12 (Xinhua) -- A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday started a third round of negotiations with Iranian officials on Tehran's disputed nuclear program, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    Herman Nackaerts, director for regional department of safeguards operation, heads the IAEA delegation, and Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's permanent envoy to the IAEA, chairs the Iranian team in this round of talk, the IRNA quoted an informed official as saying.

    The unidentified official also said the three-day negotiations are being held at experts' level, adding that a number of experts from Ministry of Foreign Affairs were scheduled to take part in the talks.

    In April, Iran and the IAEA held two rounds of talks focusing on allegations that the Islamic republic conducted studies on how to develop a nuclear bomb.

    The latest round of technical talks between Iran and the IAEA was held on April 28-30. Technical talks were launched after the release of a report by IAEA Director General Mohamed El Baradei on Feb. 22.

    Tehran claims that it has addressed all questions raised by the international nuclear watchdog in order to remove the West's concern over its nuclear program.

    The United States and its allies have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran has denied the charges and insisted that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.