The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that a representative of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission and a senior Iranian official met on 29 and 30 September in secret to discuss proposals to declare the Middle East a nuclear-free zone. It is believed to be the first direct meeting between officials of the two countries since the fall of the Shah in 1979.

The meeting, which took place under the auspices of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, was also attended by European and United States officials, and representatives of a number of Arab countries. Although participants were sworn to secrecy, Australian sources are said to have leaked the news to the press.

The Israel Atomic Energy Commission has confirmed the meeting took place, but has refused to make a statement. A spokesman for Iran's atomic energy organisation said there was no truth to the claim.

The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei says Iran has agreed to consider a deal agreed by the US, Russia and France whereby Iran would send most of its enriched uranium to Russia. However, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tehran says Iran will not agree to give up its right to enrich uranium. He says: "Just before news of this deal came out, the deputy head of Iran's atomic agency came out with his own statement saying Iran had 'good news' about its nuclear programme, which it will reveal in the next few months. We don't know what that good news is but, whatever it is, I'm sure the West will not be pleased about it."

Israel is believed to have possessed nuclear weapons since the 1960s. Iran denies that it intends to build nuclear weapons. The right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is convinced that Iran is attempting to build a nuclear bomb. After Iran revealed in September that it had a secret nuclear facility Mr Netanyahu called on the US to take action. 

Director-General of International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei
Photo by Wikimedia Commons