IAEA ready to hold talks with Iran in not-too-distant future: Grossi

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi says he hopes to establish a constructive dialogue soon with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to yield “real results.”

“After the election in Iran (in July), I corresponded with President Pezeshkian, indicating my disposition to meet him in Tehran to re-launch the dialogue and cooperation between the Agency and Iran,” Grossi said in his introductory statement to a quarterly meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna on Monday.

He added that the new Iranian president agreed to meet him “at an appropriate juncture”.

"I encourage Iran to facilitate such a meeting in the not-too-distant future so that we can establish a constructive dialogue that leads swiftly to real results," said the UN nuclear agency chief.

Asked at a news conference if his reference to the "not-too-distant future" meant before or after the presidential election in the United States, scheduled on November 5, Grossi said, “No, hopefully before that."

The IAEA Board of Governors in June passed a resolution against Iran despite warnings from Tehran that it would react decisively to such a measure.

Iran starts enriching uranium to 60% purity at Fordow in response to IAEA resolution

Iran starts enriching uranium to 60% purity at its underground Fordow nuclear site.

In November, Iran started enriching uranium to the purity level of 60% at its Fordow nuclear facility, after informing the IAEA of its decision via a letter.

Iran also installed two new IR2M and IR4 cascades at Natanz facility, which have now reached the stage prior to the injection of uranium gas into centrifuges.

"What we see is that there is some work, but nothing that indicates a rush to a fast implementation of a big increase in terms of enrichment production," Grossi said.

Iran has stepped up nuclear work since 2019, after former US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached under his predecessor Barack Obama.

Tehran started to reduce its commitments under the JCPOA in a series of pre-announced and clear steps after witnessing the other parties' failure to secure its interests under the agreement.

Iran envoy warns against repercussions of IAEA resolution

Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations office in Vienna Mohsen Naziri Asl also on Monday warned against the adverse consequences of the IAEA Board of Governors’ resolution on the positive atmosphere required for interaction between Tehran and the UN nuclear agency.

“This resolution can neither divert the international community’s attention from true intention of the troika (E3) to give the Israeli regime enough time to continue the genocide in Gaza with complete impunity, nor can it exert pressure on Iran to renounce its rights and its peaceful nuclear program,” Naziri Asl said.

He added that the E3 – Britain, France and Germany – must be held accountable for the repercussions of the anti-Iran resolution, which proved to be useless.

The Iranian diplomat expressed hope for discussions without any political bias, saying it is very likely that there would be anti-Iran statements from the EU and the E3 on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear activities.

Naziri Asl also said the new Iranian administration is willing to enhance mutual cooperation with the IAEA.

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