Following talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has agreed to significantly increase monitoring of its nuclear activities. The agreement represents a moment of thaw in a time of chilled relations between Tehran and the West.
More observers are allowed to travel to the country again and they will have access to the nuclear infrastructure and relevant persons. IAEA director Rafael Grossi visited Iran on Friday and Saturday in the hope of reaching new agreements.
In recent years, Iran has only allowed observers limited access and fears have grown that the country is enriching uranium for nuclear weapons. Recent reports of enriched particles almost suitable for nuclear weapons reinforced that idea. According to Iran, the enrichment happened accidentally. The country has always strongly denied that it wants to make nuclear weapons.
After the talks ended, Grossi said he hopes to have a team on site within a few days. Iran would also allow cameras in sensitive locations again. During technical meetings, Iran and the IAEA want to further develop the agreements.
Deal
In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear deal with the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Russia and China. That agreement was supposed to prevent the country from producing nuclear weapons. In exchange, numerous sanctions were removed.
But after former US President Donald Trump unilaterally canceled the deal, it crumbled. European companies withdrew from Iran for fear of US sanctions, and Tehran itself was becoming less and less aware of the agreements. In 2021, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran was increasingly enriching uranium and increasing its stockpile, in violation of agreements made in 2015.
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