Grossi: The U.S. Seeks a Much Simpler Text than the JCPOA Agreement; Araghchi Went to Moscow

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, during his visit to Tehran, told Le Monde that the U.S. wants to achieve a simpler text in negotiations with Iran, without all the highly technical annexes of the JCPOA agreement. The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization announced after meeting with Grossi that the deputies of both sides will meet in the coming days to address the issues of disagreement between the International Agency 'within the framework of the overall agreement reached.' The New York Times also reported, citing U.S. government officials and other sources, that the U.S. President opposed Israel's planned attack on Iran's nuclear facilities and preferred to enter negotiations with Tehran officials to limit the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. According to the New York Times report published on Wednesday, April 27, Israel had planned attacks on nuclear facilities in May with the aim of delaying Iran's ability to build a nuclear weapon for a year or more. The newspaper wrote that after months of internal discussions in the U.S. government, Donald Trump decided to pursue negotiations with Iran instead of supporting military options. The execution of this attack not only required U.S. military assistance to defend Israel against a potential Iranian response but also depended on Washington's support for the overall success of the operation. Last week, the U.S. and Iran held a meeting in Oman for the first time during both Trump presidencies to determine the process and framework for negotiations, which both countries described as 'positive' and 'constructive.' The second round of negotiations is scheduled for Saturday, April 30, and the latest reports indicate that this meeting will likely take place in Rome but hosted by Oman. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy for Legal and International Affairs, stated in an interview with Iranian television on Wednesday evening that if the two sides reach an agreement on 'frameworks and agenda' in the next meeting, in the third round 'we should involve experts in two areas to delve into the details more technically and start drafting if necessary.' However, following the Muscat meeting, diplomatic movements and comments from Washington officials and reactions from Tehran officials have intensified. In the latest developments, Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio, both senior national security advisors to Donald Trump, are set to travel to Paris on Thursday. Araghchi has also headed to Moscow and is expected to discuss 'bilateral relations and the recent indirect negotiations with the U.S. with senior Russian officials,' according to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson. He had previously announced that he would convey a 'written message' from Khamenei to Putin during this trip. According to Politico, Witkoff is expected to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, and Marco Rubio will discuss with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, focusing on Iran, Ukraine, new tariffs, and trade relations. The latest comments also relate to Iran's Foreign Minister's warning about the positions of U.S. officials. Abbas Araghchi stated on Wednesday that the U.S. should not adopt 'contradictory and opposing' positions in negotiations. This reaction was to Witkoff's earlier statement that an agreement might be reached for Iran to return to the 3.67% enrichment level (similar to the 2015 Obama administration agreement with Iran), but later he declared: 'An agreement with Iran will only be finalized when it is a Trump agreement.' Witkoff also wrote on social media: 'Iran must stop and dismantle its nuclear enrichment and weapons program. It is important to have a strict and fair agreement that remains sustainable, and that is what President Trump has asked of me.' In response, Abbas Araghchi emphasized that 'real positions will be determined at the negotiating table,' adding: 'Iran's enrichment is a real and accepted matter. We are ready to build trust regarding potential concerns, but the essence of enrichment is non-negotiable.' Meanwhile, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic stated on Tuesday that negotiations between Iran and the United States regarding Tehran's nuclear file 'have been well executed in the initial steps.' Gharibabadi stated that the location of the second round of negotiations is 'in Rome,' focusing solely on the nuclear issue. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, visited Iran on Wednesday and met with Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's President, and other officials of the Islamic Republic. He simultaneously announced in an interview with Le Monde that 'this time the U.S. wants to achieve a simpler text; a text devoid of all the highly technical annexes of the 2015 agreement [JCPOA] that did not remain sustainable in practice.' After meeting with Iranian officials, Grossi reported on 'intensive discussions' with them and stated that the interactions between Iran and the U.S. are at a 'very sensitive' stage. Meanwhile, Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, also announced that his deputy and Grossi are set to work in Tehran in the coming days to advance an agreement reached two years ago between the parties.