WANA (Sep 22) – Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, met with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on Monday in New York on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting was held at Iran’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

 

Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi also attended the talks. Both sides reviewed the latest state of cooperation between Iran and the Agency.

 

Araghchi underlined Iran’s goodwill and responsible approach regarding its nuclear program, stressing that any progress would depend on the commitment of other parties as well as an end to their excessive demands and misuse of the UN Security Council to exert pressure on Iran.

 

Grossi, for his part, praised Iran’s constructive engagement with the Agency, particularly the recent Cairo understanding, and emphasized the need for all stakeholders to make use of diplomatic channels to prevent escalation.

 

Earlier upon his arrival in New York, Araghchi confirmed that he would be meeting Grossi to discuss the latest developments concerning Iran’s nuclear program, the new cooperation agreement signed in Cairo on September 8, and the “snapback” mechanism triggered at the Security Council.

 

Araghchi reiterated that if the snapback procedure were ultimately implemented, the agreement with the Agency would lose its validity. “The cooperation agreement with the IAEA was concluded under new circumstances following the aggression against Iran. Should the snapback move forward, we will again be facing a new situation,” he stated.

 

He warned that if the disruptive move by the three European countries at the Security Council were to proceed, Iran would respond accordingly, leading to a new and uncertain phase in its engagement with the IAEA.