Grossi in Tehran: Preventing 'War' Depends on 'Tangible Results' of Negotiations

Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who visited Tehran, stated in a joint press conference with Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of the Islamic Republic, on Thursday, November 24, that achieving a 'result' in nuclear negotiations is essential to avoid war. In this conference, the Director General emphasized that 'at this juncture, achieving tangible and observable results that demonstrate that joint work is progressing is essential, and this keeps us away from conflict and ultimately war.' Grossi also described his meeting on Thursday with Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, as 'necessary.' According to reports, Araghchi claimed in this meeting that the Islamic Republic is ready for nuclear negotiations and to resolve disputes with the IAEA regarding compliance with its nuclear safeguards, but it will not do so under pressure. This claim comes at a time when Tehran's prevention of IAEA inspectors from entering Iran and its lack of transparency regarding uranium traces found at undeclared sites in the Islamic Republic are among the contentious issues. Meanwhile, Grossi stated on Tuesday, November 22, just before his trip to Tehran, that 'the Islamic Republic must realize that the international situation is deteriorating day by day, and the room for maneuver is decreasing.' The IAEA Director General also emphasized the necessity of 'finding diplomatic solutions.' Grossi pointed out the 'dimensions, depth, and ambitions' of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, stating that ways must be found to 'increase the Agency's visibility.' At the same time, informed diplomats say that European powers intend to pressure Tehran next week by passing a resolution against the Islamic Republic due to its weak cooperation with the IAEA. This comes as the victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election has made countering the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities a priority for the incoming U.S. administration. Following the U.S. withdrawal from the global powers' nuclear agreement with Tehran in 2018 during Trump's first term and the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions, the Islamic Republic has increased its nuclear activities. Under that agreement, Tehran limited uranium enrichment, which the West perceives as a covert attempt to develop and expand nuclear weapons capabilities. While efforts to revive the JCPOA have so far failed, Rafael Grossi has described the 2015 agreement as a 'hollow shell.' The Islamic Republic is currently continuing uranium enrichment at 60%, which is very close to the 90% required for bomb-making. According to the IAEA, the Islamic Republic, by continuing this process, will have enough enriched uranium to produce about four nuclear bombs. The Iranian government claims that its nuclear activities are not military and pursue peaceful objectives. The IAEA Director General previously described statements by Masoud Pezeshkian regarding Tehran's readiness to engage on the nuclear agreement as an 'opening' for the Agency. He stated, 'What I would like to hear from him is his opinion on returning to a framework agreement. I believe this is something we need to do.' Grossi also mentioned that this framework agreement could be based on the JCPOA, but given that Iran now has much greater capabilities than at that time, it must be much stronger. According to Reuters, he also expressed his expectation to cooperate with Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, to resolve the Iranian nuclear challenge.