UAEA President Calls for Cooperation from Iran Ahead of Nuclear Talks

BAKU - Rafael Grossi, President of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has made a clear call for Iran to cooperate further in addressing ongoing concerns regarding its nuclear program. Grossi is scheduled to arrive in Tehran on Wednesday for critical talks.
The IAEA is pressing Iran to allow more comprehensive monitoring at its nuclear facilities and to provide explanations about uranium traces found at previously undisclosed locations. Despite efforts, very little progress has been made, and the situation is becoming more urgent with the potential return of former President Donald Trump and the possibility of reinstating the maximum pressure policy against Iran.
Emphasizing the urgency of the matter, Grossi stated, "I am very far from being in a position to tell the international community ... what is happening. I would be in a very difficult position. So in a way, they (Iran) need to help us so we can help them." These remarks were made during the COP29 climate summit in Baku.
Since 2019, Iran has ramped up its nuclear activities in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal during Trump's first term. The agreement originally aimed to limit Iran's uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of harsh sanctions. Now, Tehran is enriching uranium to 60% fissile purity, a significant step towards the required 90% for weaponization, and should it choose to further refine, it has accumulated enough material for approximately four nuclear bombs. Iran claims that its nuclear program is intended solely for civilian energy purposes.
The IAEA's board is set to meet in Vienna one week after Grossi's visit, and the European signatories to the 2015 agreement - the United Kingdom, Germany, and France - are considering increasing pressure on Iran due to its lack of cooperation. The agency's most recent report from June highlighted the loss of information regarding key aspects of Iran's nuclear program due to its failure to carry out necessary verification and monitoring activities for more than three years.
Grossi underscored the importance of transparency, pointing out the program's expansion and the diminishing visibility of areas such as centrifuge production. He described achieving results in monitoring and clarifying unexplained activities as "indispensable."
The IAEA chief also expressed disappointment that Iran had not re-engaged more quickly, despite positive signals at the United Nations General Assembly in September. He suggested that the deteriorating geopolitical situation in the Middle East, including mutual attacks between Israel and Iran, could have contributed to the delay.
Grossi's upcoming visit to Tehran is seen as a critical step in addressing international concerns regarding Iran's nuclear intentions and the need for greater oversight by the IAEA.