UN envoys of Iran, Russia, China confer with Grossi in Vienna
The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN in Vienna said senior diplomats from Iran, Russia, and China had met with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s director general in the Austrian capital, emphasizing the need for sustained cooperation and dialogue to boost diplomatic efforts.
Iran’s ambassador to United Nations organizations in Vienna, Reza Najafi, together with his Russian and Chinese counterparts, Mikhail Ulyanov and Li Song, met the head of the UN nuclear watchdog Director General Rafael Grossi on Thursday, the mission said on X.
“Amb. Najafi together with Amb. Li and Amb. Ulyanov jointly met IAEA DG, emphasizing the continuation of cooperation and dialogue to support the ongoing diplomatic efforts and also highlight the opportunity for the IAEA to play a professional and constructive role in this regard,” the mission said.
During the meeting, the senior diplomats said mutual respect and diplomatic engagement remain the only viable and practical path for resolving the nuclear issue.
The three countries said the IAEA and its chief possess the necessary potential and expertise to contribute constructively to this process, with the goal of supporting diplomatic efforts and addressing the issue in a positive and practical manner.
The meeting comes following the conclusion of the second round of Iran’s indirect negotiations with United States in the Italian capital of Rome on April 19.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica on April 20, Grossi, for his part, had expressed optimism about the ongoing indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US, describing it as “a positive day for peace.”
The third round of Iran-US indirect talks - expert-level technical negotiations - is scheduled to be held on Saturday - April 26 – in Muscat, the capital of Oman, where the first round was held.
The Islamic Republic has repeatedly stressed that it has never functioned as the side to leave negotiations, while declaring it would respond positively to any potential positive steps by the counterparty.