ALBAWABA - The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief Rafael Grossi is set to arrive in Iran on Monday, where he is expected to speak at a conference and meet officials for talks on Iran's nuclear program.
Grossi, the IAEA's General Director, is scheduled to speak at Iran's first International Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology.
The three-day event, which begins on Monday, is taking place in Isfahan province, which is home to the Natanz uranium enrichment complex and was the site of strikes ascribed to Israel last month.
The IAEA and Iranian officials confirmed "no damage" to nuclear facilities following the purported attack on Isfahan, which was generally interpreted as Israel's reprisal to Iran's first-ever direct attack on its arch adversary days earlier, in retribution for a deadly strike on Tehran's Damascus consulate.
Grossi is scheduled to meet with Iranian officials, most importantly being Iran's nuclear chief of staff, Mohammad Eslami.
On Wednesday, Eslami, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, stated that he was "sure that these negotiations will further help clear ambiguities, and we will be able to strengthen our relations with the agency".
Grossi last visited Iran in March 2023, meeting with officials and authorities including President Ebrahim Raisi. According to the UN agency, Iran has deactivated IAEA monitoring devices at nuclear installations in recent years and prohibited inspectors from visiting.
Iran has ceased compliance with nuclear activity limits imposed by the 2015 deal with major international powers after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the pact in 2018 and reimposed extensive sanctions.
Tensions between Iran and the IAEA have erupted periodically since the deal collapsed, and EU-mediated attempts have so far failed to re-engage Washington and persuade Tehran to abide by the terms of the agreement.
Last year, Iran slowed its uranium enrichment as a goodwill gesture, while informal negotiations with the US began. However, the UN nuclear agency reported that Iran accelerated the manufacturing of 60% enriched uranium in late 2023.
According to the Iranian official news agency IRNA, Grossi's visit will provide "an opportunity for the two sides to share their concerns," particularly about the IAEA inspectors.
In September, Iran withdrew the accreditation of numerous inspectors, a move labeled "extreme and unjustified" by the UN body. Tehran, on the other hand, said that their decision was the result of "political abuses" by the US, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Eslami stated that the IAEA has "more than 130 inspectors" working in Iran and that Tehran remains committed to cooperating with the nuclear agency.
