The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi visited Iran's Natanz nuclear plant and its Fordow site.
United Nation's Nuclear watchdog visited two nuclear sites in Iran Friday morning. The International Atomic Energy Agency's Head, Rafael Grossi went to the Fordow site some 100 kilometres south of Tehran and Natanz nuclear plant aimed at resolving disputes on nuclear talks.
Their last report in June said it had lost continuity of knowledge to key parts of the Iranian nuclear programme due to being unable to perform verification and monitoring activities for more than three and a half years.
Speaking earlier to Iranian officials, Grossi made an effort to restore his inspectors' access.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi told the chief of the IAEA that the country is willing to resolve outstanding disputes but won't succumb to pressure.
Following the discussions, Araqchi said that the ball is in the European Union/E3 court, referring to France, Britain, and Germany.
The three countries along with the United States represent the West in the nuclear talks with Iran.
"Willing to negotiate based on our national interest and inalienable rights, but not ready to negotiate under pressure and intimidation," Iranian state media quoted Araqchi as saying. "I hope the other side will adopt a rational policy."
Grossi's trip comes a week before the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors meet in Vienna with the European 3 to consider whether to raise pressure on Iran given its lack of cooperation.
The Head of IAEA also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time since Pezeshkian was elected in July. The president told Grossi that Tehran was prepared to cooperate with the IAEA to clear up "alleged ambiguities" about Tehran's nuclear work, state media reported.
After a meeting with Iran's nuclear chief, in a televised joint press conference, Grossi urged Tehran to take steps to resolve the remaining issues.
"It is in our power here to take concrete steps that will indicate clearly, to the U.S. and the international community, that we can clarify things and move forward with concrete solutions," Grossi said.
President-Elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January upends the nuclear diplomacy, which had already stalled under the outgoing administration of Joe Biden.
During Trump’s last term, Washington unilaterally withdrew from the deal struck in 2015 between Iran and six world powers that limited Tehran’s nuclear work in exchange for relief from sanctions.
Since then, Tehran abandoned all limits on its program, and enriches uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the 90% required for an atomic bomb.
Iran has long denied any nuclear-bomb ambitions, saying it is enriching uranium for civilian energy use only.
U.S. President Donald Trump insisted on Wednesday that American strikes caused “very severe” damage to Iranian nuclear sites, despite leaked intelligence reports suggesting otherwise.
Iran’s parliamentary committee has approved a draft bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) until Tehran receives firm guarantees on the agency’s conduct.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 25th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. and Iranian officials have engaged in dialogue amid recent regional tensions, with Washington expressing cautious optimism about the outcome.
Airlines have cancelled and rerouted flights across the Middle East as the Israel-Iran conflict escalates.
NATO has confirmed that its 2026 summit will be hosted by Türkiye, with Albania set to host the following summit in 2027, according to the final declaration from the summit in The Hague.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague to discuss key regional and global issues.
NATO allies have pledged to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a major increase aimed at countering long-term threats, particularly from Russia and terrorism.
The Kremlin on Wednesday said Tehran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a "direct" result of the recent Israeli and US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran.
King Charles will welcome U.S. President Donald Trump for a state visit later this year, marking the president’s second official visit to the U.K. under royal invitation.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Masked law enforcement officers have detained Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the 'Sacred Struggle' movement in Armenia. He is accused of preparing terrorist attacks and an alleged attempt to seize power, according to the Investigative Committee.
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has announced a major reform initiative aimed at strengthening national sovereignty in the country’s space sector.
An explosive device detonated on an armoured combat-engineering vehicle in Khan Younis in Gaza, killing seven Israeli soldiers and seriously wounding another soldier on Tuesday (24 June).
Iran’s parliamentary committee has approved a draft bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) until Tehran receives firm guarantees on the agency’s conduct.
Uzbekistan will significantly expand its small hydropower capacity through a new $150 million World Bank project, aiming to enhance electricity access and boost renewable energy production nationwide.
NATO has confirmed that its 2026 summit will be hosted by Türkiye, with Albania set to host the following summit in 2027, according to the final declaration from the summit in The Hague.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague to discuss key regional and global issues.
NATO allies have pledged to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a major increase aimed at countering long-term threats, particularly from Russia and terrorism.
The Kremlin on Wednesday said Tehran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a "direct" result of the recent Israeli and US strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran.
King Charles will welcome U.S. President Donald Trump for a state visit later this year, marking the president’s second official visit to the U.K. under royal invitation.
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