IAEA delegation to visit Tehran shortly

A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will travel to Tehran next week to discuss the implementation of a recently passed Iranian law suspending cooperation with the agency, well-informed sources told Al Mayadeen.

No concrete date has been revealed yet. The talks are expected to focus on the political aspects of the relationship between Iran and the IAEA. The sources emphasised that the delegation will not include any inspectors, Caliber.Az reports. 

The visit marks the beginning of a new chapter in relations between Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog, falling under the framework of legislation passed by Iran’s parliament. In late June, the Guardian Council ratified a resolution to suspend official cooperation with the IAEA, citing the need for concrete security guarantees for Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Iranian officials have accused the IAEA of failing to condemn attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites and said full cooperation will not resume until the agency addresses both political and technical concerns.

On July 28, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran remains a party to the IAEA’s safeguards agreements but is working on a new manual for cooperation with the agency, in light of the binding parliamentary legislation.

The planned discussions follow a statement by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on July 25, in which he said Iran had shown willingness to resume technical discussions over its nuclear program.

By Sabina Mammadli