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Tehran (AFP)
The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, began meetings with officials in Tehran on Sunday, before the expiration of a deadline set by Iran to reduce the work of international inspectors in case the sanctions are not lifted. Americans.
Grossi arrived in Tehran on Saturday night, and this morning he met with the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, according to television channels.
Neither the agency nor the Iranian authorities have specified whether Grossi’s agenda includes other meetings, before concluding his visit today.
The director of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency will hold a press conference on Sunday evening in the Austrian capital, following his return from Iran.
The administration of former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed tough economic sanctions on Tehran.
A year later, Iran began to gradually back away from many of the core obligations of the 2015 Vienna agreement between Iran and the United States, France, Great Britain, Russia, China, and Germany.
The Biden administration expressed its willingness to return to the agreement, but stipulated the beginning of Iran’s return to its obligations. On the other hand, Tehran emphasizes the priority of lifting sanctions, and emphasizes that it will return to its obligations in case the United States does so.
Under a law passed by Iran’s Consultative Assembly in December, the Iranian government must suspend voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Treaty on the Limitation of Nuclear Weapons if Washington does not lift the sanctions by February 21.
This will restrict some aspects of the activities of the agency’s inspectors, who have been informed by Tehran that the step will take effect on the 23rd.
Grossi said the goal of his visit was to reach “a mutually acceptable solution, consistent with Iranian law, for the International Atomic Energy Agency to continue its basic verification activities in Iran.” “I hope (achieve) success, that is in everyone’s interest,” he added.
For his part, Salehi confirmed on Saturday that the next step will take effect on Tuesday.
He said: “The other party has not yet implemented its duties to lift the sanctions, so inspections that go beyond the safeguards (of the agreement) will be suspended,” adding that it will discuss with Grossi, “reviewing and discussing the considerations. of the IAEA within the framework of the bilateral cooperation and safeguards agreement, “according to state television.
Iran is considering proposing talks
Iran has previously confirmed that it will not expel the inspectors from the United Nations agency or stop cooperating with them.
The nuclear deal was concluded after years of negotiations and was primarily aimed at lifting many of the sanctions imposed on Iran, in exchange for reducing its nuclear activities and ensuring that it does not seek to develop a nuclear weapon.
On Thursday, the Biden administration expressed its willingness to participate in talks sponsored by the European Union and with the participation of all parties to the agreement, to discuss possible ways to revive it.
Iran’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television late Saturday that Tehran was studying the proposal.
“We are studying this proposal and consulting with our friends and allies such as China and Russia. But basically, we believe that Washington’s return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the official name of the nuclear agreement) and the lifting of sanctions and respect its commitments will not they need negotiations, ”he said.
“We will decide (on the meeting) after our consultations,” he said.
The diplomat explained that the new step, “in my opinion, will reduce the ability of the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect between 20 and 30 percent”, while stressing that “this does not mean that we are withdrawing from the JCPOA “.
Araghchi added: “The step … is reversible, as are all of our previous commitments to which we reduced our commitment.”
The United States and the European countries party to the agreement had previously warned Iran about the consequences of its next move. Following a meeting of their foreign ministers on Thursday, these countries asked Iran to assess “the consequences of such a dangerous measure, especially at this time when the opportunity arises, to return to diplomacy.”
US President Biden told the Munich Security Conference that his country would cooperate with its allies to deal diplomatically with Iran, after his predecessor Trump adopted a policy of “maximum pressure” towards him.
Biden said: “The threat of nuclear proliferation still requires careful diplomacy and cooperation between us.” “That is why we said that we are ready to re-enter negotiations with the 5 + 1 group on Iran’s nuclear program,” he added.
On Sunday, Iranian newspapers reflected different opinions on the Shura Council law, which is dominated by conservatives.
The conservative newspaper “Kayhan” called the new step “strategic” and offers a “guarantee” by informing the other party that “terminating the contract (the agreement) is costly”.
He stressed that Iran will not allow Western countries “to manipulate their national interests.”
For its part, the reformist newspaper “Sharq” considered that Washington “has not shown any intention of returning to the agreement, despite knowing the decision of the parliament.”
He added that “there is still no opening horizon.” The next few days are likely to be “decisive for Iran and the 4 + 1 group, and also for the United States.”
© 2021 AFP
