Egypt’s Foreign Ministry announced that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation on November 16 with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi to discuss the latest developments in Iran’s nuclear program and cooperation with the agency ahead of the IAEA Board of Governors meeting this week.
The talks came amid reports that the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are preparing to submit a draft resolution against Iran at the Board session scheduled for November 19–21.
Iran has curtailed its cooperation with the IAEA since the 12‑day war in June, citing attacks on its nuclear facilities. A framework agreement for cooperation, brokered earlier by Cairo, collapsed in September after the European trio triggered the snapback of sanctions.
The IAEA has repeatedly urged Tehran to allow inspectors access to damaged sites and to its stockpile of roughly 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%. Iran’s mission in Vienna has warned that any Western‑backed resolution would be “another major mistake” that could derail cooperation with the agency.
In its statement, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said the discussions were part of Cairo’s ongoing efforts to ease tensions and bolster regional security. Abdelatty underscored the need to reduce tensions, build trust, and create conditions conducive to dialogue, stressing that sustained engagement within multilateral frameworks is essential to reinforcing the nuclear non‑proliferation regime and strengthening global stability.
Separately, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi cautioned on November 16 that if a resolution is adopted, Tehran would fundamentally reassess its approach, reviewing its engagement with the IAEA and its commitments under the Non‑Proliferation Treaty.
