Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have agreed to maintain ongoing negotiations over unresolved matters related to Tehran’s nuclear program, signaling continued diplomatic engagement amid broader geopolitical tensions.
The decision came following a meeting in Tehran between Behrouz Kamalvandi, Deputy Head for International, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs at Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI), and Massimo Aparo, the IAEA’s Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards.
According to Iranian state media, both parties reviewed key concerns, particularly regarding nuclear safeguards and previously unresolved issues. The discussions focused on how to follow up on outstanding questions and the mechanisms for implementing past and future agreements. While specific details of the meeting were not publicly disclosed, both sides reportedly agreed to sustain communication and continue negotiations in the coming weeks.
This visit by the IAEA delegation comes at a critical juncture, as Iran is also engaged in indirect talks with the United States over its nuclear program, with Oman serving as a mediator. The international community has closely watched Iran’s nuclear activities, especially after the collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), following the U.S. withdrawal from the accord in 2018.
Since then, Iran has gradually rolled back its commitments under the JCPOA, enriching uranium beyond agreed limits and limiting access to IAEA inspectors. The ongoing dialogue with the IAEA is viewed as a potential step toward rebuilding transparency and trust, despite the broader impasse in reviving the nuclear deal.
The IAEA has repeatedly called on Iran to clarify the presence of nuclear material found at undeclared sites and to provide full cooperation with inspections. Iran, for its part, insists its nuclear activities remain peaceful and within its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Diplomatic observers suggest that continued cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA could help ease international concerns and pave the way for broader negotiations, particularly if it leads to greater monitoring access and resolution of long-standing safeguard issues.
While the outcome of these talks remains uncertain, the mutual agreement to continue discussions marks a tentative but important development in the effort to address concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and avoid further escalation in the region.
