Ruptly
"International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said on Friday that the United States and Iran appear to be 'pretty close' to reaching a nuclear framework agreement. "We are not a party to this current process, but we are in contact separately with both. Our sense is that they seem to be pretty close to agreeing on what I would describe more with regard to the nuclear," Grossi stated during a press conference in Vienna. He explained that both sides seem to be nearing an agreement on "sort of a framework, organisational [...] structure to give themselves time to look into the different problems." adding that it is "a distinct possibility that we will have at least that". Grossi also said that verification work in Iran remains limited due to ongoing hostilities, stressing that the agency's ability to inspect facilities is essential for any future agreement. "There have been a number of attempts to re-establish our verification activities in Iran," he said, noting that some inspections have taken place at sites selected by Tehran but access remains restricted. He added that Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains central to any potential deal, with possible options including export, dilution, or continued storage under IAEA monitoring, though he stressed that such decisions are ultimately 'political.' "There are, of course, certain relative technical difficulties or technical consequences of certain actions. [...] Let me say that in terms of all these alternatives, we sometimes forget one issue; we have to go there first and check the amount," he explained. The IAEA chief further warned that any attack on nuclear facilities in the region remains a serious risk, citing the recent drone strike near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates. "This episode is a very serious one," he emphasised. "Any attack on a nuclear reactor, of course, a nuclear power plant, is very serious." He said the strike caused a fire in an external electrical installation near one of the reactor units, temporarily cutting external power and forcing backup systems to activate, though he praised the operator's response as 'very professional.' Grossi's remark came just days after he visited the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, after a drone attack targeted the facility on May 17. On May 19, the UAE Ministry of Defence said its investigation had determined that the drones involved in the attack 'had originated from Iraqi territory'. The incident drew broad regional and international condemnation, including from the United Nations Security Council. No entity has assumed responsibility for the attack at the time of publication."
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