FM Zarif, IAEA chief discuss settlement of issues, cooperation

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Organization Rafael Grossi held talks in Tehran on Sunday.

The two sides also exchanged views about Iran-IAEA cooperation in line with the Safeguards Agreement.

Grossi, who arrived in Tehran on Saturday, also held talks with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), earlier on Sunday.

Their talks revolved around coordinating the simultaneous implementation of the IAEA’s Safeguards Agreement and the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions, a law passed by the Iranian Parliament in December.

Tehran is expected to cease the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty's Safeguards Agreement, which allows the IAEA to carry out short-notice inspections in Iran.

The measure adds to Iran’s previous steps away from the nuclear deal with the world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in response to Washington’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and the other parties’ failure to fulfill their commitments.

Earlier on Sunday, Zarif told Press TV in an exclusive interview that the Islamic Republic will be open to negotiations on reviving the historic 2015 nuclear accord once all signatories begin fulfilling their obligations.

“We have reduced the level of our commitment, but we have always said it’s reversible,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, adding, “The minute they come back to full compliance, we will go back to full compliance.”

Iran’s permanent representative to Vienna-based international organizations, Kazem Gharibabadi, said on Sunday that Tehran held "fruitful discussions" with the visiting IAEA chief.

Iran and the IAEA held fruitful discussions based on mutual respect, the result of which will be released this evening. pic.twitter.com/phLZcnR4ue
— Gharibabadi (@Gharibabadi) February 21, 2021

"Iran and the IAEA held fruitful discussions based on mutual respect, the result of which will be released this evening," Gharibabadi, who attended the meeting, wrote on Twitter.

Iranian lawmakers on Sunday once again highlighted the necessity of stopping voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if the sanctions remain in place.

“All Iranian officials, including the administration officials, are duty-bound to stop voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol as of Esfand 5, 1399 (February 23, 2021) and restrict the (International Atomic Energy) Agency’s inspections [of Iran's nuclear facilities] to those stipulated in the Safeguards Agreement if sanctions are not lifted,” a statement issued by 226 members of the Iranian Parliament read.