Foreign Minister, IAEA chief discuss cooperation, settlement of issues
The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the UN nuclear agency chief discuss bilateral cooperation and the settlement of issues pertaining to Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program ahead of the expiry of Tehran’s deadline to limit inspections by the IAEA if the illegal US sanctions are not lifted.
According to Press TV, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi held talks in Tehran on Sunday.
The two sides also exchanged views about Iran-IAEA cooperation in line with the Safeguards Agreement.
Grossi, who arrived in Tehran on Saturday, also held talks with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), earlier on Sunday.
Their talks revolved around coordinating the simultaneous implementation of the IAEA’s Safeguards Agreement and the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions, a law passed by the Iranian Parliament in December.
Tehran is expected to terminate the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty's Safeguards Agreement, which allows the IAEA to carry out short-notice inspections in Iran.
Earlier on Sunday, Zarif told Press TV in an exclusive interview that the Islamic Republic will be open to negotiations on reviving the historic 2015 nuclear accord once all signatories begin fulfilling their obligations.
“We have reduced the level of our commitment, but we have always said it’s reversible,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, adding, “The minute they come back to full compliance, we will go back to full compliance.”
Iran’s permanent representative to Vienna-based international organizations, Kazem Gharibabadi, said on Sunday that Tehran held "fruitful discussions" with the visiting IAEA chief.
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