Raphael Grossi says it is important to allow more time for diplomacy and consultation
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Raphael Grossi has expressed hope that Iran, the nuclear deal states and the US will agree on Washington’s return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme.
“The President of the United States and the Secretary of State have signalled a desire to return to the JCPOA, they are looking for ways to do so. I therefore think it was important, among other things, to allow more time for diplomacy and consultation. We should not give up after seven days, it will take time,” Grossi told reporters in Vienna, commenting on his talks with the US on the nuclear deal after their withdrawal. – ‘We all hope, and I as an international official and a citizen of the world hope that they will come to an agreement. And we are going to support them.”
Earlier, the IAEA director general, after reaching agreement with Iran on a temporary technical continuation of monitoring at Iranian nuclear facilities from February 23 for up to three months, expressed hope that this would pave the way for further political consultations because of the volatile situation surrounding the nuclear deal. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Sunday that the Iranian side did not consider it necessary in the current circumstances to hold the proposed EU meeting on the nuclear deal involving the US. Khatibzadeh added that “there has been no change in Washington’s approach at the moment.”