The head of the UN nuclear watchdog is now in Tehran
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog arrived in Tehran on Friday in the hope that he would be able to revive the 2015 agreement reached between Iran and world powers. Britain says it is "very close" to implementing the agreement.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian officials on Saturday, a meeting that is seen as crucial to reaching an agreement and negotiating a deal to protect the deal in the Austrian capital.
In a statement on its website, the Iranian Energy Agency said, "Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman for the Iranian Energy Agency, welcomed Grossi to Tehran. He will meet with the head of the Iranian Energy Agency on Saturday."
Earlier in the day, Grossi wrote on Twitter: "This is a critical time, but positive results can be expected for all."
The next few days are expected to be crucial for Iran's nuclear program. The most recent talks began in Vienna in late November.
The head of the British delegation, Stephanie Al-Kak, said in a statement on Friday that talks between Britain, France and Germany were "very close" and that negotiators from three countries were leaving Vienna for a while to discuss progress. They are ready to come back. "
In addition to negotiators from China, Iran and Russia, they have been taking part in the latest round of talks in the Austrian capital since late November. The United States is indirectly participating in the talks.
Grossi vowed earlier this week that the IAEA would never shy away from trying to convince Iran of the existence of nuclear material in some undeclared nuclear installations in the past. Iran says it must suspend its probe into the nuclear deal. Grossi is expected to return to Vienna to attend a news conference.
The European Union (EU) is chairing talks on a nuclear deal, and the EU's foreign policy chief, Joseph Borrell, said on Friday he expected results over the weekend, but insisted the talks needed to continue.
The 2015 nuclear deal, formerly known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), aimed to ensure that Iran's nuclear program would not be used to build nuclear weapons. Iran has always refused to make that commitment.
Earlier on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian said he was ready to visit the Austrian capital once an agreement was reached.
On Thursday, US State Department Deputy Press Spokeswoman Jelina Porter said the negotiators were close to concluding a possible agreement, but some complex issues remained unresolved.
However he acknowledged that their numbers were not enough to defeat Al-Qa'eda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
[AFP]
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