IAEA Director Visits Tehran to Discuss Nuclear Enrichment
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), visited Tehran on Friday and had a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, as well as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. The purpose of his visit is to discuss the nuclear enrichment in Iran, which has been reported to be as high as 84 percent.[0]
Grossi asserted that any military attack on nuclear facilities is illegal and the only way forward is through constructive discussion.[1] He added that he hopes the discussions will lead to important agreements.
The IAEA reported last week that inspectors detected uranium particles enriched to 84% purity in Iran, a potential major new escalation that US officials called worrisome.[2] The prospect of a potential strike by Israel has been raised due to the increased nuclear capabilities of the Persian Gulf nation, as well as its closer ties with Russia in terms of military cooperation.[3]
Grossi’s visit to Tehran comes as the IAEA attempts to break the deadlock in talks to renew the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. He stated that he is confident that through “constructive” discussions, important agreements can be reached.
0. “The ball is in Mr. Grossi's court” Tehran Times, 26 Feb. 2023, https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/482367/The-ball-is-in-Mr-Grossi-s-court
1. “Netanyahu rebuffs IAEA chief's remarks against possible attack on Iran” The Jerusalem Post, 5 Mar. 2023, https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-733401
2. “Iran: Ambiguity Over ‘84% Uranium Enrichment’ Resolved With IAEA – Iran Front Page” Iran Front Page – IFP News, 4 Mar. 2023, https://ifpnews.com/iran-ambiguity-84-percent-uranium-enrichment-resolved-iaea
3. “Iran Says Questions About Suspected Highly Enriched Uranium Are Resolved” Bloomberg, 4 Mar. 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-04/iran-resolves-questions-about-suspected-highly-enriched-uranium
