IAEA official to visit Iran for talks over nuclear site access

A senior official from the U.N. nuclear watchdog will travel to Iran on August 11 for talks, but no visit to nuclear sites is planned, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on August 10, Caliber.Az writes, citing Western media.

Since Israel launched its first military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites during a 12-day war in June, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been unable to access Iran’s facilities, despite IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stating that inspections remain his top priority.

Tehran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bombings by issuing a damning report on May 31, which led the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors to declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations.

Iran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, has reiterated its commitment to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

"Negotiations with the IAEA will be held tomorrow to determine a framework for cooperation," Araghchi said on his Telegram account. "A Deputy Director General of Grossi will come to Tehran tomorrow, while there are no plans to visit any nuclear sites until we reach a framework."

Last month, Iran enacted a law passed by parliament suspending cooperation with the IAEA. The legislation requires any future inspection of Iran's nuclear sites by the IAEA to receive approval from Tehran's Supreme National Security Council.

By Khagan Isayev