Tehran decides to resume talks with US - state-linked daily
Iran has taken steps toward beginning negotiations with the United States in parallel with talks with the UN nuclear watchdog, the state-linked daily Farhikhtegan reported on Monday.
Iran has taken steps toward beginning negotiations with the United States in parallel with talks with the UN nuclear watchdog, the state-linked daily Farhikhtegan reported on Monday.
According to the paper, “decisions have been made to start negotiations with America so that, simultaneously with the start of talks, a request can be submitted to delay activation of the snapback mechanism until the negotiations are concluded.”
Farhikhtegan said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is seeking a full return to cooperation, including the reinstatement of inspectors, the installation of monitoring cameras and “detailed information on the location of enriched materials.”
Iran, it added, has pushed back by proposing limits on “the number of inspectors, the level of oversight and their nationalities.”
The newspaper noted that European governments have tied suspension of the snapback mechanism to several conditions, “including direct negotiations with America, talks on missile activities, and signing the so-called snapback-plus.”
IAEA inspectors left Iran after parliament passed a law expelling them in response to Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities in June. Since then, only limited visits have taken place, including to monitor fuel replacement at the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
Iranian officials say talks with the agency are aimed at drafting a “new framework” for cooperation in line with the country’s law.
On Saturday, Iran’s envoy in Vienna, Reza Najafi, said a third round of discussions had been held “to draw up guidelines for implementing safeguard commitments in the new situation following the attacks.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also expressed optimism, saying Iran was “close to reaching a framework for cooperation with the Agency.”
Farhikhtegan added that resuming cooperation could carry risks for Iran’s national interests. It wrote that allowing inspectors to return to damaged sites could expose sensitive data, recalling past accusations of information leaks.
“It is essential that frameworks for monitoring continue with this record in mind,” the paper said, adding that restrictions should be defined to “minimize misuse of IAEA reports.”
The daily concluded that uncertainty remains over whether cooperation would ultimately serve Iran’s interests. “The key question is whether starting cooperation with the Agency will bring more benefits than costs, and whether removing ambiguity over Iran’s nuclear status can delay the activation of the snapback mechanism.”
