The Head Of The IAEA Hopes To Reach An Agreement With Iran

Iran's nuclear facility gate in Natanz. (Wikimedia Commons/Parsa/2au)

JAKARTA - Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi hopes that his organization can reach an agreement with Iran in the near future.

The IAEA, Grossi said, hopes to finalize a deal with Iran in the coming days to restore its full presence in the country and continue their work.

"I really hope that in the next few days, these discussions can reach a successful conclusion in order to facilitate the resumption of our important work with Iran," Grossi explained when opening a routine session of the IAEA Board of Governors, quoted from TASS September 8.

Grossi explained that without the return of the full IAEA inspection, the organization "will not be able to provide any conclusions or guarantees regarding Iran's nuclear program."

He called for the preparation of a fast framework for the complete resumption of the IAEA work in Iran, which would benefit both sides.

Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country and the IAEA were close to agreeing on a new framework for the resumption of cooperation between the two parties.

"As far as I'm concerned, good negotiations have taken place and we are close to achieving a new framework for cooperation with the agency," Foreign Minister Araghchi said, citing IRNA Xinhua.

He added that a lucrative cooperation for Iran is a collaboration that considers the country's concerns, "which in particular has been reflected in parliamentary legislation."

Late last month, IAEA inspector returned to Iran after leaving the country, but not to conduct an inspection of Tehran's nuclear facilities.

Foreign Minister Araghchi said at the time inspectors from the IAEA had returned to Iran following the decision of the Highest National Security Council (SNSC) to oversee the refueling process at the Bushehr PLTN.

He stressed that no final agreement has been reached regarding a new framework for cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

"Based on the law passed by Parliament, cooperation with the IAEA is subject to the decision of the Highest National Security Council. Therefore, all requests from the agency are submitted to the SNSC," he explained.

He added that the presence of IAEA inspectors was needed after the decision to replace fuel at the Bushehr PLTN was taken.

It is known that IAEA inspectors left Iran in early July after Tehran suspended cooperation, citing the agency's failure to prevent or condemn a coordinated US-Israeli attack on Iran's peaceful nuclear facility, which Tehran says constitutes a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter.