What Does Grossi’s Deputy Want in Tehran?
WANA (Aug 11) – Today, Tehran is hosting one of the most important technical-political figures of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): Massimo Aparo, deputy to Rafael Grossi. But this visit comes with neither inspection cameras nor tours of nuclear facilities. Contrary to portrayals in some media, his mission is tied to a single urgent goal: finding an emergency formula to unlock cooperation at a time when the West is watching with growing concern the fate of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium stockpile.
From the outset, Iranian officials have made their position crystal clear: no parallel talks with the United States are on the agenda. This trip is strictly a technical meeting to define a framework for future engagement with the Agency—a framework which, as Abbas Araghchi stressed, “will be based on the law passed by Parliament” and under which no practical cooperation will begin until the framework is in place.
The Law That Changed Everything
The law obliging the government to suspend cooperation with the Agency—passed by Iran’s parliament in July this year—marks a turning point in the country’s nuclear policy. It was a direct response to a series of attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, carried out by Israel and the United States under the Agency’s watch, but never formally condemned by it.
Domestic critics of the IAEA, including several MPs, have gone further, accusing “some inspectors of spying for Israel”—an allegation that has deepened existing mistrust. From Tehran’s perspective, the Agency has abandoned its role as a neutral referee, effectively playing on the West’s political field, and through selective reporting, providing a pretext for pressure and even attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
Azizi: No Physical Access to Nuclear Sites for IAEA Delegation
WANA (Aug 04) – Ebrahim Azizi, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, emphasized that according to laws passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament), under no circumstances will physical access to Iran’s nuclear facilities be granted to any international institution. Speaking about certain rumors regarding the possible resumption of […]
Layers of Mistrust
Iran argues that, as a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it has the right to peaceful nuclear technology and even uranium enrichment. Yet instead of receiving the promised support, it has faced a barrage of restrictions and political pressure. Article 60 of the Vienna Convention—which allows states to suspend their commitments if the other party breaches them—has been cited as the legal basis for Iran’s recent move.
Aparo’s Mission: A Difficult Task
In this context, Grossi’s deputy’s mission in Tehran looks less like the dispatch of a technical mediator and more like a last-ditch effort to prevent the complete collapse of communication channels. He must convince Iranian officials that cooperation with the Agency still holds value—while Tehran has set clear conditions for any return: guarantees for the security of its facilities and full respect for its nuclear rights.
Given such red lines, Aparo’s visit is unlikely to yield a “grand bargain.” At best, the meeting could produce a limited roadmap for continued talks. What is certain is that, with this new law, Tehran has shifted the equation with the Agency from a defensive posture to an assertive, demand-driven one. The ball, for now, is in Vienna’s court.
Arak nuclear facility after U.S. strike. Social media/ WANA News Agency
