IAEA Chief Visits Key Iranian Nuclear Sites

Photo: Iranian International

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi visited two of Iran’s critical nuclear sites on Friday, signaling a potential shift in the country's approach to its disputed nuclear program.

The visit comes as Iran expressed its readiness to restart negotiations aimed at easing international sanctions, The Caspian Post reports, citing Iranian media. 

The Fordow site, located about 100 km south of Tehran, has been a focal point of tension due to its uranium enrichment activities. In February last year, inspectors discovered uranium particles enriched to 83.7% at the underground facility.

Iran said it started enriching uranium to 60% at Fordow two years ago, building on similar enrichment at the other site visited by Grossi, Natanz. This level, close to weapons-grade 90%, represented a significant escalation in its nuclear program.

Grossi’s trip to Tehran included meetings with key officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

President Pezeshkian signaled Iran’s willingness to cooperate with the IAEA to clarify ambiguities regarding its nuclear activities and again asserted the peaceful intentions of the program.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, warned that any resolution by the IAEA’s Board of Governors criticizing Iran’s nuclear program would prompt immediate retaliatory actions.

“We will not allow pressure to dictate the course of our peaceful nuclear activities,” Eslami said during a joint press conference with Grossi.

The IAEA’s Board of Governors is set to meet next week, and European powers are advocating for a resolution to increase scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program and press Tehran to return to negotiations.