Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (R) shakes hands with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi before a meeting in Tehran. AFP
The United States of America has said it expects Iran to take concrete steps to address international concerns about its nuclear programme. The statement came amid assurances by Iranian President Massoud Peseshkian that he was ready to dispel “doubts and ambiguity” around the country’s nuclear ambitions, AFP reports.
“We want to see not just words or hints, but real changes in Iran’s behaviour and actions,” said US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel during a conversation with journalists. According to him, the goal of the United States is to ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. “We are leaving all possible options on the table to achieve this goal,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, in Tehran, Iranian President Massoud Pesekian held talks with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi. The main topic of the meeting was the future of the country’s nuclear programme.
The situation around the Iranian nuclear issue remains tense. Donald Trump, who is preparing to return to the White House, pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” on Tehran during his first term in office. As part of this strategy, the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed tough sanctions on Iran.
As the international community awaits concrete steps from Tehran, discussions around the nuclear issue remain in the centre of geopolitical attention.
