Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said an investigation by the International Atomic Energy Agency into “safeguards issues”, relating to nuclear particles found at Iranian nuclear sites, needs to end if an agreement on saving the country’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers is to be clinched.
“Without resolving safeguards issues, talking about an agreement would be meaningless,” Raisi asserted at a news conference in Tehran on Monday, marking a year as president.
Asked if he would meet United States President Joe Biden during his upcoming trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, Raisi said it will not happen.
Such a meeting would “have no benefit for the people and interests of Iran”, he said.
Traces of nuclear particles were found years ago at several Iranian nuclear sites, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi has repeatedly demanded “full cooperation” from Tehran as the only way to close the investigation.
Since talks on restoring the nuclear deal between Iran and World powers reconvened in Vienna earlier this month, there has been speculation that Tehran has abandoned its demand that the investigation be concluded.
Comments from Raisi and other Iranian officials in recent days signal that Tehran has not backed away from the demand.
