(VOVworld) – Iran will not include its ballistic missile program in nuclear talks with the P5+1. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and chief negotiator Abbas Araqchi said on Monday that defense issues are among Iran’s red lines which are not negotiable at next rounds of talks.

An Iranian long-range shore-to-sea missile is launched during war game in southern Iran January 2, 2012. (Photo: Reuters)

Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Tero Varjoranta said Monday that Iran and the IAEA saw progress in their talks on Tehran’s nuclear program but that there remain disagreements. The IAEA has begun inspections of Iran’s nuclear program, widely suspected of having military purposes.