IAEA Chief visits Tehran to push for nuclear diplomacy
By Jennifer Hicks
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi arrived in Tehran on November 13 to engage in high-stakes nuclear talks, underscoring the urgent need for diplomacy amid escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Grossi’s meetings with key Iranian leaders, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami, and President Masoud Pezeshkian, come just weeks before US President-elect Donald Trump is set to retake office.
Grossi’s visit carries significant weight given Trump’s previous administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, a decision that reignited animosities and led to renewed sanctions.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) had offered Iran relief from international sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program to prevent weapons-grade uranium enrichment.
However, Trump’s 2018 decision to unilaterally withdraw from the JCPOA and reinstate the “maximum pressure” sanctions led Iran to gradually scale back its commitments.
This strategic rollback has raised alarm across Western capitals, as Iran now possesses enriched uranium stockpiles at levels closer to weapons-grade requirements.
Grossi’s visit aims to curb this trend, with the IAEA chief acknowledging the urgent need to bridge the widening gap between Tehran and Western powers.
Grossi’s discussions with Foreign Minister Araghchi, who played a pivotal role in securing the original 2015 deal, were described as “indispensable.”
Araghchi reinforced Iran’s position, stating that the country remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and is open to negotiations based on national interests.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Araghchi shared that the talks were “important and straightforward,” reaffirming Iran’s willingness to engage diplomatically without succumbing to external “pressure and intimidation.”
He added, “Iran has never left the negotiation table on its peaceful nuclear program.”However, Grossi faces a difficult diplomatic landscape. Iran’s stockpiles of uranium enriched to 60 percent-a level much closer to the 90 percent required for a nuclear weapon-have grown significantly, adding urgency to these talks.
The IAEA has repeatedly urged Iran to allow greater transparency by reinstalling monitoring devices and permitting inspectors broader access.
Iran’s recent decisions to restrict inspector access have further strained relations, with some Iranian lawmakers even urging Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to reconsider his religious edict, or fatwa, against developing nuclear weapons.
Iran’s nuclear ambitions have their roots in a 1957 civil cooperation agreement with the United States under the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
This partnership initially aimed to promote nuclear development for peaceful purposes. Iran ratified the NPT in 1970, obliging it to disclose nuclear materials and operations for IAEA inspection.
However, political shifts following the 1979 Iranian Revolution and concerns over Iran’s evolving nuclear activities led to increasing Western apprehension.
The JCPOA marked a turning point, achieving a temporary détente in a long-standing standoff. The deal permitted international inspectors to verify compliance, with Iran agreeing to limit uranium enrichment levels to a maximum of 3.65 percent.
When the Trump administration withdrew from the deal in 2018, claiming it was ineffective in curbing Iran’s broader regional influence, tensions resurfaced. Iran began to expand its uranium enrichment activities shortly after, challenging the agreement’s original terms.
Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign reimposed sweeping economic sanctions that further alienated Iran, and the incoming US administration under his leadership has signaled a potential return to this policy.
With Grossi’s diplomatic mission coinciding with Trump’s impending second term, Iran’s officials are wary of returning to the negotiation table under perceived intimidation, viewing the JCPOA’s original terms as contingent on mutual respect and adherence to the agreements made in 2015.Grossi’s visit also comes at a time of heightened military tensions.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz recently declared that Iran’s nuclear program is “more exposed than ever” to potential strikes. Katz’s statement reflects Israel’s longstanding apprehension toward Iran’s nuclear aspirations, often seen as an existential threat.
Recent direct confrontations between Iran and Israel have further underscored the regional implications of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
The war in Gaza, where Iran-backed Hamas is in direct conflict with Israeli forces, and in Lebanon, where Hezbollah is similarly backed by Iran, has further intensified regional fears.Grossi expressed concern about the shrinking “margins for maneuver” in a recent interview, emphasizing the necessity of finding “diplomatic solutions” before the situation escalates into full-blown conflict.
Given Israel’s willingness to use pre-emptive strikes, as evidenced by past attacks on nuclear facilities in Iraq and Syria, there is widespread fear that further escalation could lead to a major confrontation involving not only Iran and Israel but also other regional actors.
In response to Katz’s statements, Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani criticized the US for abandoning the nuclear agreement, noting, “The one who left the agreement was not Iran, it was America.”
Mohajerani pointed to the failure of the “maximum pressure” approach, asserting that it only deepened Iran’s resolve. Her comments underscore Iran’s determination to pursue its nuclear ambitions while framing the ongoing standoff as a consequence of US policies rather than Iranian intransigence.
Iran’s stance remains that as a committed NPT member, it is pursuing a “peaceful nuclear program.” The nuclear program, as Iranian officials assert, is strictly for civilian purposes, such as energy production and medical research.
However, as Iran continues to increase its uranium enrichment capacity and rolls back JCPOA restrictions, Western powers worry that Iran is positioning itself to develop nuclear weapons capability-an accusation Tehran has consistently denied.
Grossi’s efforts to re-engage Iran in nuclear diplomacy may yet yield a solution, but the current political climate presents formidable obstacles.
Iran’s recent decision to restrict IAEA inspector access and its substantial stockpile of highly enriched uranium signify a marked shift from its previous commitments. For Grossi and the IAEA, convincing Iran to return to JCPOA compliance while accommodating its “inalienable rights” under the NPT will be a delicate balancing act.
Iranian leaders have repeatedly signaled a willingness to negotiate but only on terms that respect the country’s sovereignty and strategic interests.
Grossi’s talks in Tehran may succeed in laying the groundwork for renewed cooperation, but with the geopolitical landscape fraught with competing national and regional interests, achieving a long-term solution may prove elusive.
Ultimately, Grossi’s visit underscores the fragile state of nuclear diplomacy in the region. His meetings with Tehran’s top officials reflect a last-ditch effort to prevent further deterioration in relations that could lead to widespread conflict.
As Trump’s return to the White House looms, the future of Iran’s nuclear program and the broader region’s stability hangs in a delicate balance, poised between diplomatic engagement and potential confrontation.
