IAEA chief calls on Iran to implement nuclear monitoring agreement

Vienna, May 7: Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has called on Iran to take concrete steps to allow international monitoring of its nuclear programme.

Following talks with Iran's Nuclear Chief Mohammed Eslami in the central Iranian city of Isfahan on Tuesday, Grossi said that an agreement reached in March 2023 on checks on Iranian nuclear facilities was not being implemented fast enough.

Referring to the agreement, the IAEA Chief added that there had been a "slowdown in its implementation".

He called for "very concrete, very practical, tangible measures that can be implemented to accelerate the process". Despite the 2023 agreement, Tehran in September withdrew permission for leading IAEA inspectors to work in Iran.

In addition, the agency has not been authorised to access data from some of its monitoring devices.

Eslami confirmed on Tuesday that implementation had been slow "due to some issues," blaming sanctions on Tehran. However, Iran's state news agency IRNA said Eslami was hoping for positive developments after the talks with Grossi.

Eslami also warned against "hostile measures" against Iran's nuclear programme by Israel.