Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is scheduled to visit Iran in the coming days for discussions with high-ranking officials, according to Iranian state media reports from Sunday.
IRNA, the official news agency, stated that Grossi will arrive in Iran on Wednesday at the official invitation of the Iranian government. His meetings in the country are planned for Thursday.
This upcoming visit follows Grossi’s trip to Iran in May, where he emphasized the need for “concrete” steps to enhance cooperation regarding Iran’s nuclear program during a press briefing in Isfahan province, which houses the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
Grossi’s trip coincides with the recent victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election. During his first term, Trump withdrew the United States from a critical nuclear agreement that had been designed to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for relief from sanctions.
Attempts by the European Union to bring the US back into the deal and encourage Iran to adhere to its terms have not been successful. Since then, Iran has reduced its commitments under the agreement, leading to ongoing tensions with the IAEA over compliance issues.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who assumed office in July, has expressed support for reviving the nuclear agreement and ending the country’s international isolation.
On Tuesday, Trump mentioned to reporters that he did not intend to harm Iran, but insisted that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.” Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, claiming that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.
Additionally, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif called on Trump to rethink his “maximum pressure” strategy, which has resulted in heavy sanctions on Iran. Zarif attributed the sharp increase in uranium enrichment levels—rising from 3.5 percent to 60 percent—to this policy.
