IAEA Chief Reiterates Hope for Closer Mutual Cooperation

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency expressed hope about the improvement of cooperation with Tehran while reporting on Iran’s latest nuclear activities at the regular General Conference of the IAEA on Monday. 
Rafael Grossi welcomed the recent agreement reached between the agency and Iran, hoping it will “reinforce cooperation and enhance mutual trust”, the IAEA website reported. 
Grossi traveled to Tehran in late August to discuss differences with Iranian officials over the agency’s request for inspecting two sites. 
Iran had denied IAEA inspectors access to the locations, arguing that the request was based on inadmissible data. 
After negotiations in Tehran, however, Iran agreed voluntarily to provide the UN nuclear watchdog with access to the two sites while the IAEA assured that it would not make further requests for access to locations other than those declared by Iran under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol.
“The Agency subsequently conducted a complementary access, under the Additional Protocol, at one of two locations specified by us. Our inspectors took environmental samples which will be analyzed. A complementary access at the second specified location will take place later this month,” Grossi said at the conference. 
He also said the IAEA continues to carry on its regular responsibilities regarding Iran’s nuclear-related commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, verify non-diversion of declared nuclear material under its Safeguards Agreement and evaluate the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities.