IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, one of the architects of the 2015 deal that limited uranium enrichment in exchange for sanction relief. Grossi expressed his intention to visit Tehran in October to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and voiced hope for renewed cooperation, Reuters reported.
Diplomatic efforts over Iran’s nuclear program have stalled following Iran’s recent presidential elections and ahead of the U.S. elections in November. Meanwhile, Iranian and European officials met in New York to explore ways to reduce tensions.
Grossi emphasized the need for swift progress in technical talks, stating that previous processes left many questions unanswered. He highlighted the importance of navigating the current period of uncertainty, especially in light of future relations with the United States.
Iran continues to advance its nuclear program. IAEA reports show that the country has completed the installation of new uranium enrichment centrifuges at the Fordow facility, though they have not yet been activated. At the Natanz site, 15 cascades for enriching uranium to 5% are already operational.
According to Grossi, Iran is enriching uranium at a steady pace, neither accelerating nor halting. He also stressed the need for the agency to take a more active role in future negotiations, as the previous approach is no longer viable.
