Grossi: Cooperation with IAEA vital to prove peacefulness of Iran’s nuclear program
Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi in a meeting with Iran Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said cooperation with the UN agency is indispensable to provide credible guarantees of the peaceful nature of Iran’s program.
“Timely meeting with Iran’s deputy foreign minister Gharibabadi,” Grossi said in a post on X after his meeting with the Iranian official in Vienna on Monday.
Gharibabadi also took to the X, described the meeting as “frank and constructive” and said that Iran is “committed” to cooperating with the UN’s nuclear agency.
“While safeguarding its national security and interests, Iran remains committed to cooperating with the IAEA within the framework of its safeguards’ obligation,” he said, referring to agency protocols aimed at deterring the spread of nuclear weapons.
He said both sides discussed the Iran-IAEA cooperation, the resolution of two outstanding issues, the security of nuclear facilities, the latest developments surrounding the nuclear issue, and the lifting of sanctions.
Gharibabadi emphasized that the settlement of the remaining issues requires the elimination of external political pressure on the IAEA and the agency’s adoption of an “independent, technical, impartial, and professional” approach.
Currently, Iran and the IAEA are in a dispute triggered by the agency’s claims of “uranium traces” found at “undeclared nuclear sites” in Iran.
Iran has categorically rejected the accusations regarding undeclared nuclear activities or materials. Tehran maintains it is prepared to cooperate with the IAEA to settle disputes.
Earlier Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the meeting was a “part of our ongoing engagement with the agency.”
The discussions in the Austrian capital come after Gharibabadi took part in talks with his Russian and Chinese counterparts in Beijing on Friday.
“As threats against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities have increased, it is natural for us to intensify consultations with the IAEA,” Baqaei said.
On March 7, US President Donald Trump said he had written to Iran’s leadership urging new talks on the country’s nuclear program, but warning of possible military action if it refused.
Iran has confirmed receiving the letter, with Baqaei saying Monday that “the content of the letter is not far removed from Trump’s public statements and repeats the same talking points.”
“Our response will be provided through the appropriate channels once the assessment is complete,” he added.
For decades, Western countries led by the United States have suspected Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran rejects such claims, insisting its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes, including energy production.
In 2015, Iran signed an agreement with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany to limit its nuclear activities.
But Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018.
Tehran remained committed to its obligations under the deal for a year but then started to roll back from them, increasing the levels of uranium enrichment.
In recent months, Iran has held several rounds of talks with Britain, France and Germany in a bid to revive the agreement, which had lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities.