Tehran: A new round of discussions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expected in the coming days, announced Esmaeil Baqaei, Spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a press briefing in Tehran.
According to Trend News Agency, talks between Iran and the IAEA began last week. Baqaei emphasized the necessity of establishing a clear framework for cooperation with the IAEA in light of recent airstrikes on Iran’s civilian nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States. He highlighted that there is no precedent for IAEA inspectors visiting civilian nuclear sites in a country that has been attacked, underscoring the importance of these discussions.
On June 12, during a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, a resolution against Iran was put to a vote, having been submitted by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The resolution was adopted with 19 countries voting in favor, 11 abstaining, and 3 countries-Russia, China, and Burkina Faso-voting against. The resolution cited Iran’s repeated failure since 2019 to fully and promptly cooperate with the agency regarding undeclared nuclear materials and activities at several undeclared sites.
The IAEA’s latest report indicated that as of May 17, 2024, Iran had 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, marking an increase of 133.8 kilograms compared to the February report. The agency pointed out that enrichment at this level is a short technical step away from 90% enrichment, which is considered weapons-grade, and called on Iran for full and effective cooperation.
On June 13, Israel conducted military airstrikes on Iran, reportedly resulting in the deaths of numerous high-ranking military officers, generals, nuclear scientists, and other senior officials. In retaliation, Iran launched Operation ‘True Promise III’ the same evening, deploying hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at multiple targets in Israel, including Tel Aviv, which led to civilian casualties and widespread destruction.
Subsequently, on June 22, the United States carried out airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, reportedly destroying the sites. The following day, Iran executed airstrikes on a U.S. military base in Qatar.
On June 24, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran was announced by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, with mediation by U.S. President Donald Trump. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council also confirmed in a statement that the attacks had been halted.