Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, stated on Saturday that Tehran will not restrict the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from accessing and inspecting its nuclear sites. “We operate within the framework of safeguards, and the agency also acts according to regulations—no more, no less,” Iranian media quoted Eslami as saying. “When you engage in nuclear activities involving nuclear materials, scaling up operations naturally requires scaling up the level of inspections. This is normal,” he added. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recently reveal that Iran has consented to limit its uranium enrichment to 60%. In October, the agency reported that Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to this level had reached 182.3 kilograms, bringing it closer to the amount necessary to develop a nuclear weapon.
Iran FM: Window for nuclear diplomacy still open
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the window for nuclear diplomacy with the West is still open, “provided that there is a real will on the other side.” He said Iran is “fully prepared” for negotiations but that there is limited time for talks. His comments followed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi’s visit to Iran earlier this week. Araghchi conceded that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, “cannot be revived in its existing form” but he said it can be used “as a reference and source, and we should definitely enter into negotiations to reach a possible agreement.” He added that Iran will adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and that it has “no problem” with cooperating with the IAEA if the agency is not “confrontational” toward Tehran.