– We are willing to negotiate based on our national interests and inalienable rights, but not ready to negotiate under pressure and threats, wrote Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on X after talks with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi on Thursday.
Grossi is in Iran as part of the work to ensure progress in several issues related to the country’s nuclear programme. Among other things, the IAEA wants more monitoring cooperation at the nuclear facilities and an explanation that traces of uranium have been found in undeclared areas.
In addition to the meeting with the foreign minister, Grossi will also meet Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and the head of the country’s nuclear energy organization, Mohammad Eslami.
Nuclear agreement
In 2015, Iran entered into a nuclear agreement with the US, Russia, China, the UK, France, Germany and the EU.
The country undertook in the agreement to drastically reduce the enrichment of uranium and to allow extensive inspections by the IAEA. After then-President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear deal in 2018, Iran responded by stepping up its uranium enrichment.
In the years since, repeated rounds of negotiations have not resulted in any revised nuclear agreement with the country.
– Must find solutions
Grossi’s visit to Iran is his second this year, but the first after Donald Trump won the US presidential election again.
The visit also comes just days after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Iran is more exposed than ever to attacks against the country’s nuclear facilities. Trump’s return to the White House in January has also increased fears that the conflict between Iran and Israel could escalate into full-scale war.
– The margins for maneuvering are beginning to shrink. It is necessary to find ways to reach diplomatic solutions, Grossi said in an interview with AFP on Tuesday.
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