ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to meet with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi during his upcoming visit to Cairo, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday.
"During the trip to Cairo, a meeting will be held with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency to conclude negotiations on the new protocol of interaction between Iran and the Agency,” IRNA cited foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as saying.
The announcement comes a day after Grossi warned that time is running out in talks between his agency and Tehran to fully resume the UN nuclear watchdog’s inspections in Iran.
“There is still time, but not much. Always enough when there is good faith and a clear sense of responsibility,” Grossi said on Monday. "Progress has been made. It is my sincere hope that within the next few days it will be possible to come to a successful conclusion of these discussions in order to facilitate the resumption, the full resumption, of our indispensable work with Iran.”
The IAEA has not had access to Iran’s key nuclear sites since the US and Israel hit them in June during a 12-day war between Iran and Israel. Following the war, the Iranian parliament passed a law to suspend cooperation with the IAEA.
Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog on Saturday held their third round of talks. Baghaei said on Monday that Iran is reviewing the results.
Iran has held nuclear talks separately with the US and three European powers - UK, France and Germany - too.
Iran-US nuclear talks have stalled since the Israel-Iran war in June.
