IAEA chief meets with Iranian deputy foreign minister

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met with Iranian deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, on Monday to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.

“Cooperation with IAEA is indispensable to provide credible guarantees of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program,” Rafael Grossi wrote on X.

Gharibabadi said they discussed security of nuclear facilities, the latest developments on the nuclear issue, and the lifting of sanctions.

“Iran and the IAEA have a long-standing record of cooperation, which enables them to resolve the few remaining differences—provided that external political pressures on the Agency are eliminated and the IAEA adopts an independent, technical, impartial, and professional approach,” Gharibabadi said on X.

He also reiterated Iran’s commitment to cooperation with the IAEA “within the framework of its safeguards' obligations.”

Earlier this March, Grossi expressed his concern over Iran's increased uranium stockpile and enrichment levels of up to 60%, saying they cause him “serious concern.”

He also expressed "serious concern" about unresolved safeguards issues, emphasizing the importance of resolving them so that they can be confident that Iran's nuclear program is "exclusively peaceful."