BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 17. The current temporal framework does not yet permit the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to actively participate in the intricate negotiations unfolding between Iran and the United States, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, told reporters, Trend reports.
Speaking to local media, Gharibabadi pointed out that although IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi had made it clear that any deal struck without the agency's input would be a wild goose chase, it was jumping the gun to talk about the agency's part in the matter.
"When an agreement is reached, officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency will naturally be invited, the potential for conducting tests with the agency will be assessed, and a final agreement will be established," he stated.
Gharibabadi also highlighted that the ongoing talks focus heavily on discussions with the IAEA, which he believes are crucial. He reiterated that Iran has consistently underlined two key points to the agency and its director general: the importance of resisting political pressure from certain countries and ensuring that the IAEA’s activities align with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its member states.
The deputy minister also pointed out that Iran has faced threats against its nuclear facilities in some instances. He suggested that the IAEA could play a role in safeguarding Iran against such threats by adopting a transparent stance.
On April 12, indirect talks between Iran and the US on Iran’s nuclear program were held in Muscat, Oman. The discussions, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs, Steve Winkoff, were described as constructive and based on mutual respect. The next round of talks is scheduled for April 19.
By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a suspension of additional steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement.
Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 20–30 percent.
Iran has officially affirmed that its strategy is not to pursue the development of an atomic bomb and that it does not support the production of weapons of mass destruction.
On March 3, Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the IAEA, mentioned during the IAEA Board of Governors' meeting that Iran has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity by 93 kilograms, from 182 kilograms to 275 kilograms, compared to the previous quarter. Iran remains the only non-nuclear weapon state to enrich uranium to this level, raising significant concerns.
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