Abram Paley, acting US Special Representative for Iran Affairs, and Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), discussed Tehran’s nuclear developments. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller gave details about the meeting between Paley and Grossi in Vienna.
“We remain gravely concerned about the continued expansion of Iran’s nuclear program in ways that lack a credible civilian focus, including the continued production of highly enriched uranium,” a State Department official said.
According to Miller, during the meeting, the parties also expressed concern about Iran’s “serious lack of cooperation” with the IAEA.
The US Deputy Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security reported the other day that Iran’s enrichment of uranium up to 60% is considered military in nature, but they are open to a political-diplomatic solution to the problem.
In 2015, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, aimed at overcoming the crisis over Tehran’s nuclear development. The previous president of the USA, Republican Donald Trump, decided to withdraw from this agreement in 2018. The current head of the American administration, Democrat Joe Biden, has repeatedly stated that he is ready to return to the nuclear deal. However, the negotiations held in Vienna on this issue failed.
