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Iran and UN atomic energy watchdog agree approach to resolve nuclear issues

  • The announcement came just before Russia said it would seek guarantees from the US before it backs the deal
  • The 2015 nuclear deal has been hanging by a thread since the United States’ unilateral withdrawal in 2018 under former US president Donald Trump

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Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Tehran, Iran on March 5. Photo: EPA-EFE

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Saturday after talks in Tehran that they agreed on an approach to resolve issues crucial in efforts to revive the country’s 2015 nuclear deal.

The announcement came just before Russia said it would seek guarantees from the United States before it backs the deal, potentially scuppering hopes the agreement could be wrapped up soon.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the UN agency and Iran “did have a number of important matters that we needed … to resolve”, but that they had now “decided to try a practical, pragmatic approach” to overcome them.

Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, left, and head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation Mohammad Eslami in Tehran, Iran on March 5. Photo: ISNA / AFP
Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, left, and head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation Mohammad Eslami in Tehran, Iran on March 5. Photo: ISNA / AFP

Atomic Energy Organization of Iran president Mohammed Eslami said the two sides had come to the “conclusion that some documents which need to be exchanged between the IAEA and the Iranian organisation should be exchanged” by May 22.

Grossi’s visit to Tehran comes after Britain, one of the parties to parallel talks on the deal in Vienna, indicated an agreement was close.

The 2015 nuclear deal has been hanging by a thread since the United States’ unilateral withdrawal in 2018 under then president Donald Trump.

The landmark accord was aimed at guaranteeing Tehran could not develop a nuclear weapon – something it has always denied wanting to do.

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