VIENNA: The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, hopes to visit Iran soon for talks with newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to a confidential report obtained by AFP on Thursday.
Tensions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have escalated since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal, which aimed to curb Tehran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Recently, Iran has reduced its cooperation with the IAEA by disabling surveillance equipment and denying access to UN inspectors.
Grossi expressed hope that an early visit to Iran could facilitate a “constructive dialogue leading to concrete results.” Pezeshkian, who took office in July, has indicated a willingness to meet with Grossi “at the appropriate time.”
Grossi’s last visit to Iran in May aimed to improve cooperation but was deemed “completely unsatisfactory.” Meanwhile, Iran has significantly advanced its nuclear program and now possesses enough material to potentially build several atomic bombs.
According to a separate confidential IAEA report, Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium has increased to approximately 164.7 kilograms, enriched up to 60 percent—just shy of bomb-grade levels. This represents an increase of 22.6 kilograms since May.
Despite Iran’s denials of seeking nuclear weapons and its claims of peaceful intentions, the 2015 deal began to unravel in 2018 when then-President Donald Trump withdrew the US and reinstated sanctions. Efforts by the EU to revive the deal and bring both the US and Iran back into compliance have so far been unsuccessful.
