Iran, IAEA seek fresh start as Grossi arrives in Tehran
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi arrived in Tehran on Wednesday for crucial talks on Iran’s nuclear program, with both sides expressing hope that a new path to be opened up for cooperation.
Ahead of the IAEA chief’s two-day visit to Iran on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Grossi’s tone in his conversations with Iranian officials in Vienna as “upbeat”, expressing hope that, “With this positive attitude, we can pave the way for a new chapter in cooperation between Iran and the agency,” ISNA reported.
Meanwhile, ahead of his trip to Iran, Grossi said in an interview with CNN that the purpose of his visit to Iran, which certainly won’t be the last one, is important to find diplomatic solutions to remaining issues. Referring to the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Grossi said that it was not a secret issue and since the new Iranian government assumed office, Tehran has been looking for solutions in this regard.
While the IAEA is allowed to carry out inspections in Iran, Grossi stressed the need for “more visibility” into Iran’s nuclear program, given its scale and objectives.
“They have a lot of nuclear materials that could be used eventually to make a nuclear weapon,” the IAEA chief told CNN on Tuesday, adding, “They do not have a nuclear weapon at this point.”
Grossi also told AFP that, “The margins for maneuver are beginning to shrink,” adding that, “It is imperative to find ways to reach diplomatic solutions.”
On Wednesday, the Iranian foreign minister asserted that the Islamic Republic continued its constructive cooperation with the United Nations nuclear body.
Araghchi hoped that Iranian officials would be able to reach some agreements with the agency during an upcoming visit to the country by Grossi.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs said in an X post on Monday that the trip is in line with the joint statement issued during Grossi’s visit to Tehran on March 4, 2023.
In their joint statement, Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog recognized that bilateral positive engagement can pave the way for wider agreements among state parties.
They also agreed that bilateral interactions will be carried out in a spirit of collaboration, and in full conformity with the competencies of the IAEA and the rights and obligations of Iran based on the comprehensive safeguards agreement.
The joint statement came after the IAEA leveled Israeli-influenced accusations against Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.
In 2015, Iran proved the peaceful nature of its nuclear program to the world by signing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with six world powers.
However, Washington’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo.
In 2019, Iran started to roll back the limits it had accepted under the JCPOA.