Iran has invited the IAEA chief to visit the country

Tehran announced today that it had invited the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Iran and meet with the Iranian foreign minister, after Rafael Grossi expressed concern about the lack of contacts with Iranian officials.

“Grossi has been invited to travel to Tehran. A date has been set and we are awaiting his decision,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh.

“God willing, Grossi will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdolahian and the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency during his visit,” he added.

On Friday, Grossi said he was “surprised” he had not met with senior Iranian officials, two months after the IAEA and Tehran signed an agreement to allow the agency to continue to inspect some of Iran’s nuclear activities.

Following the agreement, Grossi expected to discuss developments with the new Iranian government, which was sworn in in August.

Grossi’s remarks and the Iranian invitation came at a time when negotiations to bail out the 2015 deal on Iran’s nuclear program are expected to resume in Vienna on November 29.

Negotiations between Tehran and the other signatory countries (Germany, China, France, Britain and Russia) are at a standstill.

The United States, which unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reinstated sanctions against Iran, will be indirectly involved in the talks.

Today, Khatibazedeh reiterated Iran’s position on the final return of the United States to the agreement.

“We have heard the US intention and demands to take part in the Vienna talks, but for us it is important to make sure that the sanctions are lifted after the necessary inspections and guarantees are provided,” said a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

SOURCE: AMPE