IAEA chief Grossi to visit Iran ahead of return to nuclear talks

Iran agreed in September to prolong monitoring of some nuclear activities and invited Grossi to Tehran for talks on outstanding issues.

By REUTERS

NOVEMBER 17, 2021 13:02

Updated: NOVEMBER 17, 2021 13:26

IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi listens as head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali-Akbar Salehi delivers his speech at the opening of the IAEA General Conference at their headquarters in Vienna, Austria September 21, 2020 (photo credit: REUTERS/LEONHARD FOEGER) — IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi listens as head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali-Akbar Salehi delivers his speech at the opening of the IAEA General Conference at their headquarters in Vienna, Austria September 21, 2020

(photo credit: REUTERS/LEONHARD FOEGER)

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi will visit Iran next week, an Iranian official said on Wednesday, as Tehran and world powers prepare to resume talks on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal.

"Grossi will arrive in Tehran on Monday," Iranian state media quoted the spokesman of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Behrouz Kamalvandi, as saying.

Grossi's trip takes place just before next week's meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-nation Board of Governors.

Western powers scrapped plans in September for a board resolution criticizing Iran after Tehran agreed on September 12 to prolong monitoring of some nuclear activities and invited Grossi to Tehran for talks on outstanding issues.