UN nuclear watchdog chief to visit Iran

Iran’s sources have said that the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, will visit Tehran “in the coming days,” amid a dispute over uranium enrichment levels in the Islamic Republic.

The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said earlier this month it was in discussions with Tehran after Bloomberg News reported that the watchdog’s inspectors in Iran had found uranium enriched to 84 per cent purity, according to The Times of Israel.

Following the revelation, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency warned that Iran could enrich uranium to weapons-grade within weeks, but added the United States does not believe Iranian leaders have yet decided to do so.

Iran has denied enriching uranium to such a level, insisting it had not made any attempt to enrich beyond 60 per cent, well past the 3.67 per cent threshold set out in a landmark agreement reached with world powers in 2015.

The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran said Grossi would travel to Iran “in the coming days” following an official invitation from its director, Mohammad Eslami.

“In recent days, we have had constructive and promising discussions” with the IAEA delegation that was already in Iran to clear up any doubts about its nuclear program, AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said.

“It is hoped that this trip will form the basis for greater cooperation and a clearer horizon between Iran and the IAEA,” he added.