UN Nuclear Chief Heads to Iran for High-Stakes Talks

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Rafael Grossi will visit Tehran on Wednesday for pivotal discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear program, cautioning just before his trip that diplomatic options may be narrowing.

Grossi’s visit is notably close to a recent statement from Israel’s defense minister, who warned that Iran’s nuclear facilities are more vulnerable than ever to potential strikes. Israel has consistently accused Iran of aiming to develop nuclear weapons, a claim that Iran denies. This year, as tensions between Israel and Iran have heightened, missile exchanges have occurred, exacerbating fears of a broader Middle East conflict.

In an interview with AFP, Grossi emphasized that “margins for maneuver are beginning to shrink” and urged the pursuit of diplomatic solutions. While the IAEA continues to conduct inspections in Iran, Grossi highlighted the need for more transparency in light of the scale of Iran’s nuclear activities, noting that while Iran has enriched substantial amounts of uranium, it does not currently possess a nuclear weapon.

The visit coincides with Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Trump, who previously withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and reimposed sanctions, recently stated that while he does not wish to harm Iran, he is firm that it must not acquire nuclear weapons. The 2015 agreement, negotiated with world powers, required Iran to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. After Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the deal, Iran began increasing its uranium enrichment, reaching levels close to those needed for a nuclear weapon.

Grossi’s upcoming discussions in Tehran are his first since May. According to the IAEA, these will involve “high-level meetings with the Iranian government” and technical discussions. However, Iran has significantly reduced its cooperation with the IAEA, limiting inspectors and deactivating surveillance equipment used to monitor its nuclear activities.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who assumed office in July, has shown an interest in reviving the nuclear agreement and improving relations with the West. Yet efforts to renew the deal have so far been unsuccessful. Some Iranian lawmakers, reacting to recent Israeli strikes, have suggested revisiting Iran’s nuclear stance, calling on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to reconsider his longstanding religious decree against nuclear weapons. Despite this, Iran maintains that its nuclear program remains solely for peaceful purposes.