The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, is set to meet with Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), during his visit to Egypt. This meeting comes after Tehran paused its cooperation with the IAEA in July, as reported by the official news agency IRNA.
IRNA also conveyed on Monday evening that the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson indicated a meeting with Grossi would occur during Araqchi’s time in Cairo, aimed at concluding negotiations for a new cooperation protocol between Iran and the agency, although no specific date was provided.
In addition, Araqchi, who leads Iran’s nuclear negotiations, is expected to visit Tunisia.
The IAEA has been engaged in discussions with Iran to explore ways to fully resume inspection activities at its main nuclear sites, particularly following the Israeli and American bombings that occurred in June.
Tehran suspended its collaboration with the IAEA due to the agency’s failure to condemn the unprecedented conflict initiated by Israel on June 13, which resulted in the bombing of nuclear and military sites as well as residential areas, leading to over a thousand fatalities.
The United States also intervened in the conflict, targeting three nuclear facilities in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz.
This Israeli assault coincided with ongoing negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over a potential new agreement concerning its nuclear program. Tehran subsequently withdrew from the talks following the attacks.
Iran has stated that after the conflict, cooperation with the IAEA will take on a “new form.”
At the end of August, a team of UN agency inspectors made a brief return to Iran to oversee fuel replacement at Bushehr, the country’s main nuclear power plant.
However, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi noted that their return does not signify a restoration of full cooperation with the agency.
While negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain halted, Iran has been engaging in discussions regarding its nuclear file with the three European nations involved in the 2015 agreement (France, the UK, and Germany).
In late August, these countries activated the “snapback mechanism” outlined in the agreement, which allows for the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran. They have given Iran a thirty-day window to reach a resolution before these sanctions are reinstated.