IAEA chief: Inspectors headed to Iran if snapback deal is struck
3 Min Read
Rafael Grossi says IAEA inspectors are on their way to Iran as Tehran and European powers engage in talks for a snapback deal before sanctions resume this weekend.
-
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi addresses the media after arriving at the Vienna International Airport in Austria on May 7, 2024. (AP)
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday that a team of inspectors is en route to Iran, pending a possible last-minute agreement with European powers to avert the reimposition of international sanctions.
Iran and European negotiators met earlier in the day and agreed to continue discussions aimed at striking a deal before Saturday evening, when sanctions under the “snapback” mechanism are scheduled to take effect.
"Everything is possible. Where there is a will, there is a way," Grossi told reporters at the United Nations. "We have our inspectors, and inspectors are on the way. There is the possibility to start this work depending on the political will of Iran."
Hours left to reach a deal
Grossi described ongoing discussions as "intense", adding, “We have just a few hours, days, to see whether something can be achieved, and this is the effort in which we are all embarked on.”
Earlier this month in Cairo, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi signed a new agreement to restart nuclear cooperation during a trilateral meeting with the participation of Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
Commenting on the agreement, Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran's readiness to cooperate with the agency but stressed that such cooperation must safeguard Iran's rights and sovereignty. He also issued a warning that in the event of military aggression or the re-imposition of sanctions, "any agreement would be considered null and void."
The outcome of the current talks could determine whether Iran faces renewed international sanctions or whether limited cooperation with the IAEA paves the way for a temporary reprieve.
Iran not after nukes, talks with US futile at present: Sayyed Khamenei
This comes after the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, asserted that Iran does not seek to possess nuclear weapons.
"Iran is one of the 10 countries that possess uranium enrichment technology, and we do not seek to possess nuclear bombs," he stated.
Sayyed Khamenei also noted that Tehran and the Western states are at odds on the issue. He explained that uranium enrichment is a process that is both effective and beneficial in people's lives, with applications prevalent in diverse fields, such as agriculture, industry, nutrition, environment, natural resources, and electricity.
He added that the list of uses for enriched uranium is long and that the enemy has never been satisfied with its peaceful application, also noting that Iran now possesses a high level of enrichment and is among the ten countries that have mastered this technology.
