Tehran, Iran – The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog and the head of Iran’s nuclear arsenal has reached an agreement that could solve some of the problems that may arise as a result of renewing Iran’s nuclear deal in 2015.
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived in Tehran late Saturday and met Mohammad Eslami, the new leader of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, on Sunday morning.
It was Grossi’s first visit to Tehran during the new presidency of President Ebrahim Raisi, who appointed Eslami as nuclear weapons chief on August 29.
Both groups said the meeting was “beneficial” and agreed to continue discussions on the sidelines of the council’s general assembly in Vienna later this month.
It was also agreed that Grossi would return to Tehran soon to replace the camera control cards, which are still being kept in Iran in accordance with a law enacted by the Iranian parliament in December.
Iran since February has said it will only hand over the tapes to the agency after an agreement was reached in Vienna that would remove the United States.
“What is important to us, and the council emphasizes, is to build confidence,” Eslami said following the meeting.
AEOI and IAEA DG Subject Review: The parties recalled and reaffirmed the spirit of solidarity and trust in their sustainability and emphasized the need to address all issues in this way and professionally.
– Gharibabadi (@Gharibabadi) September 12, 2021
Too heavy
The meeting came a few days after two IAEA secret reports were reported by the media, expressing concern about the agency’s nuclear concerns.
The report says Iran has failed to co-operate fully with the UN’s nuclear weapons, some of which may have been destroyed after the incident, while re-establishing uranium enrichment, and has not given full significance to nuclear weapons in several areas.
Iran doubled after reports, demanding that the commission be independent and shun politics.
Criticism was avoided
Grossi is expected to return to Vienna, where he is expected to hold a press conference on Sunday.
The final meeting on Sunday was reportedly sponsored by Russia, which did not agree with a resolution against Iran at the next IAEA board of governors meeting on Monday as it could disrupt negotiations on a nuclear weapons deal.
We want it with all our heart #ChipikuPDiv and #Iran maintaining profitable and business relationships. Good luck! https://t.co/wB2hh0OPIq
– Mikhail Ulyanov (@Amb_Ulyanov) September 12, 2021
President President earlier this month warned that protests against Iran at a meeting with the Austrian capital could jeopardize the return to negotiations, which Iran has not returned since July 20 after the sixth round of talks ended.
A concerted agreement between Iran and the IAEA on the review at the end of February also avoided the issue of criticism, led by the US with the help of Europe, at a previous meeting of the council.
The president, who began work in early August, said he wanted to continue the talks in Vienna, but would not take part in the talks.
Avoiding a ruling against Iran outrage by opponents of the nuclear deal, especially Israel, which has been seeking to reinstate the treaty. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Sunday ordered sanctions to help Iran secure an agreement.
The nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015 by Iran, US, France, United Kingdom, China, and Russia. But the US resigned illegally in 2018, with harsher penalties.
In response to sanctions, torture of its nuclear weapons, and the assassination of a major nuclear weapons scientist, Iran has gradually strengthened its nuclear weapons program, and is now enriching uranium up to 60 percent, at its highest level.