Rafael Grossi: An agreement with Iran is possible if there is political will
The IAEA Director General says that an agreement with Iran is possible if there is political will, but time is short. Russian representative Ulyanov also says that Iran and the US have a chance of reaching an agreement despite their differences. The Iranian Foreign Minister called for the West's "good faith."
On the fourth day of negotiations to revive the JCPOA agreement in Vienna, discussions about the "possibility of an agreement with Iran," "Iran's return to the JCPOA and the lifting of sanctions" have increased.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in an interview with the France 24 news channel on Wednesday, December 1, that an agreement with Iran is possible if there is political will, but the remaining time is short. Grossi stressed that it is in the Islamic Republic's interest to show more transparency in its cooperation with the IAEA.
He confirmed that Iran does not have 90% enrichment and, regarding the current negotiations in Vienna, said that the seventh round of Vienna talks will proceed based on the previous six rounds of negotiations and will not start from scratch.
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency also emphasized that further enrichment of uranium and the launch of a new generation of centrifuges have made it difficult for Iran to return to the agreement.
Grossi said Iran must allow nuclear inspectors unrestricted and free access to nuclear sites, including the Fordow site.
In its latest report, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced 20 percent enrichment of uranium at the Fordow site.
Russia: Iran-US agreement possible despite differences
Russia's Sputnik news agency also reported that Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, said that an agreement between the United States and Iran is possible despite their differences.
Ulyanov said that Russia is concerned about Iran’s move to start enriching uranium to 20 percent at the Fordow nuclear facility and that Tehran is going too far in this regard. However, he stressed that there is a real chance to resolve everything through negotiations and diplomacy, adding that Iran has withdrawn from the JCPOA in many of its positions, but this has happened “not because of Tehran’s malice” but in response to the “irresponsible policy of maximum pressure” and its sanctions against Iran.
Russia's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency said Moscow has concluded that it is essential for both Iran and the United States to fully return to the terms of the nuclear deal.
Goodwill between Iran and the West
Reports of 20 percent uranium enrichment at Fordow have alarmed Western countries. Western diplomats have noted that the Islamic Republic should have halted uranium enrichment during the talks as a “good faith” gesture.
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian called for “good faith from the West” in a tweet. Amir-Abdollahian wrote on his Twitter page: “If the West shows good faith, a good agreement is within reach. The Iranian delegation is pursuing logical, strong, firm, and result-oriented negotiations.”
Source: DW
