The helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has put a halt to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) nuclear negotiations with Iran.
This delay was confirmed by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Wednesday.
"They are in a mourning period which I need to respect," Grossi told Reuters. "But once this is over, we are going to be engaging again." He expressed hope that this interruption would be brief and that negotiations could continue within days.
Recent IAEA Visit and Constructive Talks
Grossi's recent visit to Iran on May 6-7 involved meetings with high-level officials, including the late Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, Iranian Atomic Energy Organization chief Mohammad Eslami, and Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani.
During these talks, Grossi proposed measures to implement a joint statement from March 4, 2023, which stated Tehran's intention to allow the IAEA to monitor its nuclear facilities and provide access to three specific sites.
The document also states that "interactions between the IAEA and Iran will be carried out in a spirit of collaboration, and in full conformity with the competences of the IAEA and the rights and obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Eslami had described the discussions with Grossi as constructive, with both parties agreeing to use the March statement as a foundation for future negotiations.
Despite these constructive discussions, Grossi noted dissatisfaction with the current state of talks.
