Iran Foreign Minister to Meet IAEA Director Before New Nuclear Talks

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he will meet International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Rafael Grossi on Monday in Geneva, a day before a new round of Iran nuclear talks with the United States is due to begin.

Araqchi arrived in Geneva ahead of the negotiations and said Iran was seeking a fair agreement without accepting pressure. He said any deal must focus on Iran’s nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.

The meeting comes as U.S.-Iran indirect talks resume under Oman mediation nuclear talks, with officials from both sides negotiating through intermediaries rather than face to face.

• Iran nuclear talks resume as Abbas Araqchi meets IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in Geneva
• IAEA inspections and Iran uranium enrichment in focus ahead of U.S.-Iran talks
• Geneva nuclear negotiations test prospects for Iran sanctions relief

The discussion with Grossi will include technical briefings by Iranian nuclear experts. The IAEA has been seeking clarity on Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and on monitoring arrangements following military strikes last year. Inspectors have raised questions about around 440 kg of highly enriched material and access to damaged facilities, central issues in IAEA inspections Iran.

Iran has allowed limited inspections at some locations but says several sites are unsafe following the strikes. These include the Natanz nuclear site, the Fordow nuclear facility, and the Isfahan nuclear complex. Tehran has also asked the IAEA to clarify its position on the attacks before expanding inspections.

The talks take place amid heightened regional tension. The United States has increased its military presence in the Middle East, while Israel has said it will not accept an agreement that leaves Iran with the ability to produce nuclear weapons. Iran insists its programme is peaceful and aimed at civilian energy needs, while defending its right to Iran uranium enrichment under international law.

Washington has pushed for broader limits that would go beyond nuclear issues, including Iran’s missile programme and regional activities. Tehran has rejected that approach, saying negotiations must remain limited to nuclear matters and Iran sanctions relief.

Diplomats say the Geneva meetings are intended to stabilise the situation and rebuild a working relationship between Iran and the IAEA before political talks move forward. Progress, however, remains uncertain, with deep mistrust on both sides and limited time to prevent further escalation.

Also Read: Israeli FM Saar to Attend Trump-Led Board of Peace Meeting

The outcome of the Geneva nuclear negotiations will be closely watched, as they could shape the future of the nuclear file and wider relations between Iran, the United States, and its regional rivals.