UN agency fails again to reach deal with Iran on restarting nuclear probe

Herman Nackaerts, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, arrives for talks with the Iran at the permanent mission of Iran in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. U.N. nuclear agency officials are meeting with Iranian counterparts in a renewed attempt by the agency to re-launch its probe of suspicions that Tehran might have worked on atomic arms. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) (The Associated Press)

Herman Nackaerts, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, arrives for talks with the Iran at the permanent mission of Iran in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. U.N. nuclear agency officials are meeting with Iranian counterparts in a renewed attempt by the agency to re-launch its probe of suspicions that Tehran might have worked on atomic arms. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) (The Associated Press)

Herman Nackaerts, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, speaks to media as he arrives for talks with the Iran at the permanent mission of Iran in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, May 15, 2013. U.N. nuclear agency officials are meeting with Iranian counterparts in a renewed attempt by the agency to re-launch its probe of suspicions that Tehran might have worked on atomic arms. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) (The Associated Press)

U.N. nuclear agency officials have again failed to reach a deal with Iranian counterparts that would allow the agency to relaunch its probe of suspicions that Tehran might have worked on atomic arms.

It is the 10th inconclusive meeting between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran on the issue over the past year and a half. The IAEA's investigation has stalled for more than five years, with Tehran saying it has answered all questions it is obliged to.

Iran denies any interest in nuclear arms. Its chief negotiator, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, called Wednesday's talks "constructive."

Herman Nackaerts, who heads the IAEA team, told reporters that the agency would continue seeking a deal although "our best efforts have not been successful so far."

No new meeting date was set.