Iranian FM, IAEA chief discuss bilateral interactions in New York

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi met IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in New York, discussing nuclear cooperation, sanctions pressures, and diplomatic solutions as tensions rise following snapback moves by European powers.

Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi met with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in New York to discuss the latest bilateral interactions, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Araghchi pointed to Iran’s “goodwill and responsible approach” towards its nuclear issue.

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He stressed that any progress towards resolving the matter would depend on other parties demonstrating responsible behaviour and stopping “excessive demands” and “abusing the UN Security Council” to pressure Tehran, the statement said.

Grossi, for his part, praised Iran’s “positive” approach in its interactions with the agency, especially after the agreement reached earlier this month to resume bilateral cooperation. He urged all relevant parties to use diplomatic channels to prevent escalating tensions, Xinhua news agency reported.

Under a law passed by its parliament and Constitutional Council, Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA after the Israeli-US attacks on its nuclear facilities in June.

Last month, France, Britain and Germany triggered the “snapback” mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, as part of pressure to resume nuclear negotiations. The UN Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a resolution that would extend sanctions relief for Iran.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced on Saturday that the country’s cooperation with the IAEA would be “effectively” suspended after the UN Security Council voted against extending the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran.