Iran has just reached a temporary agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), allowing the UN agency to continue to monitor Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
Last week, Iran announced it would ban the IAEA from conducting short-notice inspections at locations related to its nuclear program as of February 23. However, after a quick round of negotiations, the IAEA said on February 21 that an agreement had been reached with Iran, under which “necessary verification and monitoring” activities would continue for another three months.
| IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi met with Mr. Ali-Akbar Salehi, leader of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization in Tehran on February 21. Photo: Reuters |
RT newspaper quoted Rafael Grossi, head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog emphasized: “What we agree is what can be done, very helpful to close the gap we are facing. face and save the current situation ”.
Under the JCPOA international nuclear deal signed with major powers in 2015, Iran agreed to cut its controversial nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some economic sanctions by the United States and its Western allies. . However, in 2018, when US President Donald Trump unilaterally teared up the deal and US allies were unwilling to take risks to do business with Tehran, the Iranian government gradually abandoned implementing the commitment in JCPOA.
Under the new President Joe Biden, the State Department announced it was ready to discuss rejoin the JCPOA, but on the condition that “other issues in the region” are included in the negotiations.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Feb. 19 stressed that Tehran will only sit at the negotiating table with Washington if the US removes all sanctions on the Muslim nation first, unconditionally. Both sides currently have not had any move to break the deadlock.
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