Iran on Sunday said it had agreed with a recent request by the International Atomic Energy Agency to once again take samples from its Lavizan area in Tehran.

Foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini made known the decision while speaking to domestic and foreign reporters at his weekly press conference.

"Iran has agreed with the agency`s request in line with its continuing cooperation with the international body."

Hosseini further assured that the Islamic Republic of Iran would continue its cooperation with the IAEA as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He said Tehran believes the IAEA is the proper venue for resolving Iran`s nuclear case.

"If Iran`s nuclear dossier, which has been referred to the UN Security Council, is returned to the IAEA for resolution, all remaining ambiguities can be discussed in a better way and resolved."

He said Iran was counting on Russia to exert its diplomatic influence to have Iran`s peaceful nuclear case returned to the IAEA from the Security Council.

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Foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said here Sunday that Russia`s stance on the Iran nuclear issue has not changed.

Hosseini's remarks came as he spoke to reporters during his weekly press briefing during which he was asked what impact a recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, George W Bush, had on Russia`s stance on the nuclear issue.

He said "Russia sticks to its stance," adding that it is closest to facts on the ground.

He added that "although Russia moves in consort with the UN Security Council, its stance differs from the US."

He said Iran was counting on Russia to exert its diplomatic influence to have Iran`s peaceful nuclear case returned to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from the Security Council.

In response to a question on the IAEA's rejection of an Iranian request for technical assistance to its Arak nuclear reactor program, Hosseini said that "had the request been accepted the door would be opened for more IAEA inspections on Iran`s nuclear sites."

He acknowledged the IAEA`s commitment to provide member states with technical assistance in various fields.

Notwithstanding the rejection, he said "Iran will continue its path, thanks to its domestic capabilities."

"Iran's nuclear activities are legal and carried out under IAEA surveillance," Hosseini reminded.

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Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said on Sunday that IAEA has not asked to retake environmental samples from Lavizan and the request is about an academic center.

The Information and Press Bureau of Foreign Ministry said that the spokesman had made mistake earlier in saying that Iran authorized IAEA to inspect Lavizan, whereas, the agency requested to take environmental samples from an academic center.

"Iran has agreed with the agency`s request in line with Safeguards Agreement of the agency," he told reporters in his weekly briefing.

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About the rumor on delivery of Tor M-1 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran by Russia, the spokesman said that the two countries cooperate in the defense sector within the framework of international laws.