The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said that there is an Iranian agreement to allow the agency to proceed with the procedures for monitoring and verifying nuclear activities. Tehran, for its part, confirmed that it had reached understandings with the IAEA, but in return it refused any politicization of its nuclear file.
This came in the periodic meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, which began today in Vienna to discuss files, including the Iranian nuclear file, and the terms of the joint guarantees agreement.
Al-Jazeera correspondent reported that the council will discuss, in its meeting – which will last until the tenth of March – other files, including those related to safety, security and nuclear safeguards in Ukraine and North Korea, and the implementation of the safeguards agreement of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in Syria.
Grossi said that – during his recent visit to Iran – he held detailed talks for the first time with President Ibrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian, and felt that there was “an Iranian understanding of the agency’s need for some concrete answers related to some issues.”
He made it clear that he is neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the Iranian file, but that they are proceeding “on a constructive path,” considering that technical diplomatic solutions are possible and that there is a good opportunity with regard to Iran, but nothing is guaranteed, as he put it.
Grossi also said that the agency will monitor the nuclear facility at the Fordow site on an almost daily basis, stressing that they do not have a detailed list of the places they intend to visit in Iran, nor specific dates yet to do so, but the agency’s technical team will go to Tehran soon.
He stressed that the return of the IAEA inspectors to the Iranian facilities will achieve a positive atmosphere to return to the negotiations of the nuclear agreement, noting that they are at the beginning of a new stage as they have reached a set of agreements with Iran, “and things are proceeding at a steady pace, but with caution.”
The Vienna meeting comes shortly after Grossi’s visit to Iran, and in conjunction with a tour by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in the Middle East, during which he will hold talks on the Iranian nuclear program.
Iran: No to politicization
For its part, Tehran confirmed that it had reached understandings with the International Atomic Energy Agency as a prelude to resolving outstanding issues, and expressed its hope that the Agency’s Board of Governors would distance itself from any political interference.
Today, Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani expressed his country’s hope that there would be no politicization and pressure at the meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors, which kicked off today in Vienna.
Kanaani added – in a press conference – that his country hopes that it will not witness any political interference from some countries in the meeting, explaining that Tehran has reached understandings he described as good with the IAEA that could pave the way for resolving outstanding technical issues.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman expressed readiness to responsibly return to nuclear negotiations with all parties, including Washington, stressing that the exchange of messages with the United States continues through multiple channels.
Israel and America
Meanwhile, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is heading to Washington on an official visit, and is expected to meet upon his arrival with Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken and other officials to discuss issues, most notably the Iranian file and the Palestinian issue after the recent escalation in the West Bank.
The Israeli minister’s visit comes ahead of an upcoming visit by the US Secretary of Defense to Tel Aviv this week to discuss the Iranian Nouri file, according to informed sources in Tel Aviv.
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Grossi’s statements, in which he said that carrying out an Israeli attack on nuclear facilities in Iran was illegal.
Netanyahu said that Grossi is a worthy person, but he made inappropriate statements, adding that Israel will continue to defend itself in the face of those who call for its annihilation, as he put it.
Grossi said during a press conference with the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, in Tehran yesterday, that the agency denounces any attack or threat of attack on nuclear facilities in the world, considering that any military attack on nuclear facilities is an illegal act, as he put it.
