Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Arrives in Iran for Talks with Senior Officials

Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived in Tehran on Monday afternoon, leading a delegation to participate in an international nuclear conference and discussions with Iran's nuclear and political officials. During his two-day visit to Iran, Grossi will travel to Isfahan on Monday evening to attend the first international nuclear conference and will respond to questions from journalists and media representatives in a press conference after meeting and negotiating with Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization. Previously, the IAEA confirmed to the Persian section of Voice of America the upcoming visit and stated that Grossi would meet with 'senior officials' of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In March 2023, the IAEA Director General mentioned that he was planning a trip to Tehran to address 'divergences' in the relationship between the agency and the Islamic Republic. In the same month, the IAEA reported in a confidential document to its 35 member countries that Iran's stockpile of 60% enriched uranium had 'slightly' decreased in the past three months, but the total stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran continued to increase. The report indicated that Iran had reduced its 60% enriched uranium stockpile by 6.8 kg since early November, bringing it down to 121.5 kg. The report also showed that the Iranian government still possesses enough material that, if further enriched, would be sufficient for the fuel of two nuclear weapons and for more bombs at lower enrichment levels, according to the agency's definitions. According to the IAEA's definition, the Iranian government needs at least 42 kg of 60% enriched uranium to produce one nuclear bomb. The Islamic Republic denies seeking nuclear weapons and claims it has the right to enrich uranium to high levels for 'non-military purposes.' Western countries argue that there is no 'credible non-military justification' for enriching to such high levels. Under the JCPOA - the previous agreement between the Islamic Republic and world powers - Iran was only allowed to enrich uranium up to 3.67%. After Donald Trump, the then President of the United States, withdrew from this agreement and reimposed sanctions, the Islamic Republic moved beyond the nuclear limits of this agreement. The IAEA Board of Governors has passed a resolution instructing the Iranian government to cooperate with the agency's investigations into uranium particles found at sites whose nature had not been previously declared. However, the Islamic Republic has not fully complied with the agreement to reinstall IAEA cameras at some nuclear sites and has banned some of the agency's most important and experienced inspectors from operating in Iran. Grossi stated on April 20, 2023, that inspections by this agency had been suspended due to concerns over a potential retaliatory attack by Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities, and he mentioned that inspections would resume on May 24. On the line: Increasing whispers of the possibility of nuclear weapon construction from senior regime officials. Grossi: The Islamic Republic is increasing its nuclear capabilities. The Director General of the IAEA is going to Iran for talks with 'senior officials' of the Islamic Republic. Rafael Grossi: The Islamic Republic has significantly moved closer to building a nuclear bomb. At the same time as the suspension of agency inspectors' activities, Grossi expressed concern over an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Grossi: The Islamic Republic is increasing its nuclear capabilities; inspections are not being conducted adequately in scope and depth.