The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has agreed with Iran to monitor nuclear facilities more closely. This was announced by the IAEA and the Iranian nuclear organization AEOI. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi had previously held talks with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran.
Iran had recently pushed ahead with the enrichment of uranium to a very high degree of purity of 60 percent, fueling international concerns that this material could be processed for nuclear weapons. This would only require a slightly higher degree of 90 percent.
In addition, IAEA experts recently found traces of uranium with a purity of 84 percent in the nuclear facility in Fordow. Since then, the IAEA has been trying to clarify whether Iran deliberately reached this level, or whether it was an unintended, short-term peak, as Tehran has argued.
Cameras and more frequent inspections
Last year, the IAEA had to dismantle cameras and other surveillance equipment in Iran. Grossi announced after his return from Tehran to Vienna that these should be back in operation shortly. The IAEA chief described the new agreement in a press conference as a "tie-down to stop information bleeding." Tehran is also allowing more frequent visits by inspectors to Fordow, Grossi said. However, details of the improved inspection mode still have to be clarified by the two sides, the joint statement said.
Grossi had traveled to Iran to seek better access for IAEA inspectors and to raise questions about suspected secret nuclear activities in the past. The main focus is on the unexplained origin of traces of radioactive material in three places. Iran is ready to provide more information and allow inspections, the joint statement said. "So far we haven't gotten the cooperation we were looking for," Grossi clarified in Vienna. The years of talks on the open questions would now last "too long", he said.
Iran: Hope for "professional cooperation"
In Tehran, Grossi spoke of a cooperative atmosphere. Iran's nuclear chief said that a plan had been drawn up with the IAEA to clarify the open issues. "We hope that Grossi's visit will lead to professional cooperation in the future," said Mohammed Eslami. According to him, Iran does not enrich uranium above 60 percent purity. Eslami announced an international nuclear conference in Tehran.
During his visit, Grossi also met Iranian President Raisi for the first time. Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian had previously received the IAEA chief. According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, Amirabdollahian emphasized Iran's willingness to clarify technical issues relating to the controls of Iran's nuclear program as quickly as possible.
Tehran made the concessions just before the start of a regular IAEA Board of Governors meeting on Monday. Last year, the panel twice condemned Iran for lack of cooperation with the IAEA.
In 2015, Iran committed to restricting its nuclear program. In return, Western sanctions were lifted. The pact was intended to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons. After the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, Tehran reversed the restrictions. Negotiations to save the agreement are on hold. Iran has repeatedly asserted that its nuclear program is only used for civilian purposes.
