IAEA chief says inspectors back in Iran as E3 weighs reimposing sanctions
Rafael Grossi's comments come just hours after talks between the E3 and Iran concluded in Geneva, where the two sides discussed the reimposition of UN Security Council sanctions on Iran.
On Tuesday, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog said that some nuclear inspectors previously expelled from Iran had returned to the country following talks between Iran and European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told Fox News on Tuesday that a team of inspectors had returned to Iran — the first such confirmation since the country expelled inspectors in July after its parliament passed a law halting cooperation with the oversight body.
"We are holding discussions with [Iranian officials]. Now, the first group of IAEA inspectors has returned to Iran, and we are preparing to resume [inspections]," Grossi said.
Grossi’s remarks seemed to confirm a report by Amwaj media, which stated that inspectors are back in the country but added that the inspectors are still awaiting approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) to resume their activities. It is unclear how many inspectors departed or have returned.
