IAEA Urges US, Iran to Talk, Suggesting Trump Has the Ball
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is calling on the United States and Iran to engage in direct talks to de-escalate tensions surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program, Bloomberg reports.
The IAEA suggests that the next move in defusing the situation rests with US President Donald Trump.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi revealed that the agency is engaged in high-level discussions with the White House and is advocating for a more “systemic” approach to the issue. The call comes after IAEA monitors reported a significant increase in Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched just below weapons-grade levels, with the inventory swelling by more than half since Trump’s election in November.
While President Trump has recently expressed openness to a new agreement with Iran, he has also vowed to strengthen sanctions aimed at crippling the country’s oil exports. This “maximum-pressure campaign” has been a major obstacle to negotiations, with Tehran refusing to engage in talks as long as the sanctions remain in place.
This stalemate has positioned Grossi, the 64-year-old Argentinian diplomat, as a key intermediary between the two long-time adversaries. He visited Tehran in November and has maintained regular communication with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The IAEA is currently compiling a special report detailing Iranian breaches of its nuclear commitments in recent years. Critically, Iran has yet to provide “technically credible” explanations for the presence of uranium particles detected at undeclared locations, raising concerns about potential clandestine nuclear activities.
