World | IAEA UN Nuke Chief: Iran Inspection Deal Reached But Western diplomats skeptical By Kate Seamons Posted May 22, 2012 7:50 AM CDT Copied Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Yukiya Amano from Japan arrives from his flight from Iran at the Vienna International Airport on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) The good news: In what the New York Times describes as an "apparent breakthrough," the UN's nuclear chief today announced that Iran has decided to sign a "structured agreement" that would establish how IAEA inspectors would conduct a restarted probe into the military potential of the country's nuclear program. The news comes ahead of tomorrow's planned talks between Iran and six world powers, though CBS News—which flavors its report with a heavy dose of skepticism—reports that the deal won't likely affect the negotiators coming to the table, as the IAEA deal and talks are separate. But it could affect Iran's negotiators, who could argue that it compromised, and it's time for the West to do so, too. Western diplomats have expressed doubts about the deal, noting that nuke chief Yukiya Amano should have come back with a complete and signed deal, but may have fallen short due to the mounting pressure to arrive at an agreement. Amano himself acknowledged that "there remain some differences" in his discussions with Iran's top nuclear negotiator, but claims they won't be an obstacle to getting the agreement signed, which will happen "quite soon, but I cannot say how soon it will be." Read These Next What people are saying about Jimmy Kimmel's suspension. Obama warns US is facing an unprecedented 'political crisis.' Inside one of Pennsylvania's deadliest days for law enforcement. 'Our people have not historically hung ourselves from trees.' Report an error