Iran and UN nuclear watchdog pave way for resuming cooperation
Relations between Tehran and the IAEA had soured after the US and Israel conducted air strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites
Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency signed an agreement on Tuesday in Cairo to pave the way for resuming cooperation, including on ways of relaunching inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The announcement followed a meeting among Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi.
The meeting came at a sensitive time as France, Germany and the United Kingdom on August 28 began the process of reimposing sanctions on Iran over what they have deemed non-compliance with a 2015 agreement aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
On July 2, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law adopted by his country’s parliament suspending all cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
That followed Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June, during which Israel and the US struck Iranian nuclear sites.
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The only site inspected by the IAEA since the war has been the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which operates with Russian technical assistance. Inspectors watched a fuel replacement procedure at the plant over two days starting August 27.