Iran says IAEA official to visit for talks, no access to nuclear sites planned
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Iran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, said it remained committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
PHOTO: EPA
Follow topic:
A senior official from the UN nuclear watchdog will fly to Iran for talks on Aug 11, but no visit to nuclear sites is planned, said Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Aug 10.
Since Israel launched its first military strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites during a 12-day war in June, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been unable to access Iran’s facilities, despite IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stating that inspections remain his top priority.
Iran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bombings by issuing a damning report on May 31, which led the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors to declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations.
Iran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, said it remained committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“Negotiations with the IAEA will be held tomorrow to determine a framework for cooperation,” Mr Araghchi said on his Telegram account.
“A deputy director-general of Grossi will come to Tehran tomorrow, while there are no plans to visit any nuclear sites until we reach a framework.”
In July, Iran enacted a law passed by Parliament suspending cooperation with the IAEA. The law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran’s nuclear sites by the IAEA needs approval by Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Mr Araghchi recently said Iran has “received messages” from the US side on the resumption of talks, but on Aug 10, he said that “nothing has been finalised” on that matter.
On July 25, Iranian diplomats met counterparts from Germany, Britain, and France who have threatened to trigger sanctions against Tehran by the end of August if it fails to reach a deal on its nuclear programme.
The so-called “snapback mechanism” would reinstate UN sanctions under a moribund 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
The option expires in October, and Tehran has warned of consequences should it be activated.
“Our contact with the Europeans is ongoing,” said Mr Araghchi on Aug 10, adding that a date for the next round of talks has yet to be set. REUTERS, AFP
