Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN atomic watchdog, arrived in Iran on Monday to attend a conference and engage in discussions with officials regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.
The arrival of Grossi and his delegation coincides with escalated regional tensions and criticism from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) towards Iran for its lack of cooperation on inspections and unresolved issues.
Grossi’s visit was reported by news agencies as part of a nuclear conference and negotiations with high-ranking nuclear and political officials in Iran. He held discussions with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and is expected to meet with Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran.
Following his meeting with the foreign minister, Grossi took to X, previously known as Twitter, to propose “specific practical steps” aimed at rebuilding confidence and enhancing transparency in the process.
During the inauguration ceremony, Eslami expressed optimism about collaborating with the IAEA, emphasizing that this is a top priority for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“We are hopeful that the agency can fulfill its duties as an impartial international organization, unaffected by political influences,” he remarked. The conference, spanning three days, is taking place in Isfahan province, where the Natanz uranium enrichment facility is located and where recent strikes allegedly carried out by Israel occurred.
Both IAEA and Iranian authorities confirmed that there was “no significant damage” to the nuclear sites following the reported attack in Isfahan.
The incident was widely interpreted as Israel’s retaliation for Iran’s initial direct strike on its long-standing adversary a few days earlier, which was itself in response to a fatal assault on Tehran’s consulate in Damascus.
Eslami expressed confidence on Wednesday that these discussions would help dispel any uncertainties and enhance the country’s ties with the agency.
