IAEA Head Confident after 2nd Round of US-Iran Nuclear TalksRome, 20 Apr (ONA) — International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael
Grossi has expressed optimism on talks between the United States and
Iran on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Both sides were “prepared to discuss concrete aspects with each
other,” Grossi told Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper in an interview
published today.
Talks between Washington and Tehran, which are being mediated by the Sultanate of Oman, are due to continue on Saturday. The venue is moving from the
Italian capital to Muscat in Oman for the third round.
Grossi said he was satisfied with progress to date. “The talks really
could have collapsed in this second round. Then everything would have
come to a halt,” he said.
“The risk was there. Instead the spirit of Rome showed it is possible
to make progress,” the IAEA head said without providing details.
Israeli entity, the US and many western countries accuse Tehran of working
towards a nuclear arsenal, while Iran denies this. Conversely, Israeli entity is the only nuclear power in the region.
The 2015 deal which Tehran struck with the US, Russia, China, the
United Kingdom, France and Germany, provided for the easing of
economic sanctions on Iran as long as it severely restricted its
uranium enrichment and cut its stockpiles of enriched uranium.
The deal was to be subject to a stringent inspection regime.
In 2018, during his first term, Trump announced the US was
withdrawing from the deal and reimposed sanctions. Iran subsequently
announced it had resumed enrichment. Trump is now demanding a new
agreement.
— Ends/Khalid