Iran renews cooperation with IAEA under new framework

Araghchi and Grossi met in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi, who praised the agreement as “a positive step towards de-escalation.”

By JNS

The Iranian regime inked an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday to resume cooperation and allow renewed inspections of its nuclear sites under a new framework.

It comes after months of suspension following Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June, which included Israeli and American attacks on the country’s nuclear infrastructure, and subsequent parliamentary legislation halting collaboration.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and IAEA chief Rafael Grossi signed the deal in Cairo. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty participated in the meeting.

“Today, I and the IAEA director general hold a final round of negotiations to finalize the understanding on how to conduct Iran’s safeguards commitments in light of the developments following the unlawful attacks on Iran’s nuclear installations,” Araghchi said at a joint press conference with Grossi and Abdelatty.

Tehran’s top diplomat said the framework was “fully consistent” with the new law, which stipulates that nuclear inspectors would require authorization from the country’s top security body in order to conduct their work.

While in the Egyptian capital, Araghchi and Grossi met with Egyptian president Abdelfattah al-Sisi, who praised the agreement as “a positive step towards de-escalation.”

Sisi added that it could pave the way “for a return to the negotiating table and the achievement of a peaceful settlement to the Iranian nuclear program,” according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency.

Jerusalem and Western governments accuse the Islamic Republic of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, rejecting claims by the Iranian regime that its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.

The United Kingdom, France and Germany (known as the E3) last month threatened to reimpose “snapback sanctions” on Iran over its nuclear activities, while leaving the door open for a diplomatic solution.

Abdelatty said he hopes the deal could “enable an understanding” with the European powers, according to France24.