Tehran-IAEA Cooperation Makes Progress

Iran has achieved two diplomatic breakthroughs in the course of its interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency over safeguards issues, Iranian sources have said. 
One development is reportedly related to one of the three sites where the agency claims uranium particles have been found, according to the informed sources. 
Tehran has denied the accusations, saying the questions are based on fabricated data. It provided explanations to the agency which the director general dismissed as uncredible, paving the way for the passing of two resolutions against the country by the IAEA Board of Governors. 
The sources have said that the case of one of the three sites, known as Abadeh, has now been closed, IRNA reported. 
The safeguards questions related to the sites have been one of the stumbling blocks in talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 
The deal had restricted Iran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief, but unraveled when the United States pulled out and reimposed tough sanctions that prompted Tehran to scale down its commitments. 
Negotiations have been underway since early 2021 to work out how both sides can resume compliance, but have not reached a conclusion due to final differences, including the safeguards issue.
Iran demands the closure of the IAEA probe into the matter before any deal on the JCPOA. 
During IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi’s visit in March, the two sides agreed on a roadmap to settle these issues, as well as allegations about Iran’s production of uranium enriched to near weapons grade.

Allegations Withdrawn 

The sources have also said that accusations about Iran’s enrichment of uranium to nearly 84% have also been withdrawn following explanations provided by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. 
Last month, the agency criticized Iran for failing to inform it of a “substantial” change to the interconnections between the two cascades, or clusters, of centrifuges enriching uranium to up to 60% at the Fordow enrichment plant. 
Reports later came out suggesting that the agency had found uranium enriched to 83.7% in Iran, very close to weapons grade which is around 90%.
An IAEA delegation later traveled to Tehran to hold discussions with Iranian officials, who later invited the agency’s Director General Rafael Grossi to visit and pursue the talks.  
The two sides agreed on a joint agenda for measures to facilitate bilateral cooperation. 
Iran dismissed reports about changes in the interconnections, saying it was a “mistake” by the inspector. 
It also denied any enrichment beyond the declared 60% purity, explaining that unintended fluctuations in enrichment levels may occur during the process and are normal, but it is the stocks of end product that should be assessed.
Iran has been enriching uranium above the 3.67 % level set by the JCPOA as part of its countermeasures against the US sanctions. 
Iranian officials say despite exceeding the limits of the nuclear deal, nuclear activities still remain within the framework of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement required by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.