The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated that time is running out in discussions between the agency and Tehran about fully resuming inspection activities. He expressed hope that these talks could be concluded within a few days.
During a statement at a quarterly meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, which comprises 35 member states, Grossi remarked, “There is still time, but not much. A good intention and a clear sense of responsibility are always enough. Progress has been made, and I sincerely hope that a successful conclusion to these discussions can be reached in the coming days to facilitate the full resumption of our essential work with Iran.” He also expressed confidence that the practical steps being taken regarding inspections would provide ground for fruitful diplomatic consultations and other significant operations, indicating broader diplomatic efforts including Iran’s conversations with three European countries.
In Tehran, Iran’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that talks with the IAEA are progressing positively but have not yet reached a definitive result, adding that a timeline for the next round of discussions has not been established.
The ministry spokesperson, Ismail Baqaei, stated during a weekly press conference that “the third round of negotiations concluded on Saturday, and the outcomes are currently being reviewed in Tehran by the relevant authorities. We will announce the next steps once this review is complete.”
Baqaei further commented on the IAEA’s report, stating, “We believe the agency has concluded that the manner and mechanism for implementing nuclear commitments (guarantees) by Iran can no longer be as it was prior to the attack on its facilities.”
According to the Tasnim International News Agency, Baqaei noted regarding the report, “We have studied the report, and we will communicate our positions officially to the agency and the Board of Governors. We expected a fair report that considers the on-ground realities and the attack on our nuclear facilities, which warrants detailed attention from the agency to prevent future occurrences. Our conclusion is that the agency now understands that the implementation of Iran’s nuclear commitments cannot continue as it was before the attack. This is a unique incident, and there are no specific monitoring protocols for such circumstances. The agency now recognizes the importance of considering Iran’s perspective, which has been discussed in three rounds of negotiations in Tehran and Vienna.”