Iran, Egypt, UN officials hold nuclear talks in Cairo amid IAEA concerns

Iranian, Egyptian, and United Nations leaders convened in Cairo on June 2 to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, following the release of a confidential report by the UN nuclear watchdog that highlighted a sharp increase in Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.

The report, compiled by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that Iran had significantly expanded its supply of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels—raising international alarm, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the Vienna-based IAEA, defended the report’s publication. “We hoped the report would provide an incentive for a peaceful solution and a diplomatic solution,” he said.

The IAEA report noted that Iran, as of May 17, had accumulated 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity, marking a nearly 50 per cent increase since February. The enrichment level is just a short technical step from weapons-grade uranium.

The agency stated that Iran is now “the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material,” adding that this was “of serious concern.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Grossi, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during the summit. However, Iranian officials quickly criticized the IAEA’s findings.

Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, dismissed the report as politically motivated, accusing Grossi of “attempting to attract the votes of several members of the UN Security Council.” Eslami added, “He basically has chosen a political attitude, and this political attitude has led the environment to be more political rather than technical.”

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also pushed back: “So long as a country’s nuclear activities are under the IAEA’s monitoring, there is no cause for concern. The Islamic Republic of Iran is neither pursuing nuclear weapons nor does it possess any undeclared nuclear materials or activities.”

Meanwhile, Iranian officials voiced frustration over a lack of transparency from Washington. “It must be crystal clear to us that how the unfair sanctions against the Iranian nation will be removed,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei.

Abbas Araghchi concluded, “If the purpose of the talks is to attain trust that Islamic Republic of Iran will never go after nuclear weapons, I think an agreement is fully achievable.”

By Vafa Guliyeva