Grossi Reports Iran's Willingness for 'Serious Negotiations' with the Agency

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that the Islamic Republic has shown serious willingness for dialogue with the Agency for the first time in over a year. Rafael Grossi made these remarks in an interview with the Financial Times on Tuesday, May 15. The British publication notes that Iran's new approach towards the Agency could indicate Tehran's desire to reduce tensions with Washington. Grossi emphasized that the relationship between Iran and the Agency, which has been tense in recent months, 'could enter a new phase.' He stressed that it seems Tehran wants to negotiate on 'serious' issues. The IAEA Director said: 'I see in them (Islamic Republic officials) the understanding that it is better to engage with each other than to take a completely different path that could lead to increased tensions, danger, and perhaps war.' He added: 'This is very important because after several months of negotiation, we have been able to re-establish relations.' The IAEA Director described Iran's cooperation status as 'unacceptable.' He also mentioned that Iran and the U.S. continue to keep a bilateral channel open for negotiations. Rafael Grossi visited Iran on May 7 and discussed cooperation with Islamic Republic officials. After returning from Tehran, he stated that both sides had reached a 'common understanding' and Iran had told him it was ready to work on specific actions. He also mentioned that there are three categories of issues: inspections, remaining issues, and voluntary actions that Iran can undertake. In the same day, Grossi expressed concern in an interview with The Guardian regarding implicit statements from Iranian officials about changes in nuclear doctrine and lack of cooperation with the Agency. He made these comments after meeting with David Cameron, the British Foreign Secretary. The IAEA Director also stated that the conditions of the nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic regarding inspections of Iran's nuclear program are 'at a difficult point.' Grossi clarified in his conversation with The Guardian: 'Implicit statements about nuclear weapons are very serious to me. And I think these statements should stop. We are approaching a situation where the big question arises about what they are doing and why they are doing it.' Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and senior advisor to Ali Khamenei, threatened in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, which Iranian media published last Thursday, that 'we have the capacity to produce a bomb' and if Iran's 'existence is threatened,' 'we will have to change our nuclear doctrine.' He made these remarks in response to the potential targeting of Iran's nuclear facilities, stating: 'If they want to strike Iran's nuclear capabilities, it can naturally lead to a change in Iran's nuclear doctrine.' Kharrazi's remarks have elicited reactions. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department described the comments of the senior advisor to the Supreme Leader as 'irresponsible' and emphasized that the United States will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.