The Media Line: Iran Says New Cooperation Deal With IAEA Is Near Completion 

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Iran Says New Cooperation Deal With IAEA Is Near Completion 

By The Media Line Staff 

Iran’s foreign minister said Saturday that Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are close to finalizing a new framework for cooperation, following months of strained relations with the United Nations nuclear watchdog. Abbas Araghchi spoke at a conference in Tehran, describing ongoing negotiations with the agency after talks resumed Friday in Vienna. 

“As far as I know, good negotiations have been held and we are very close to arriving at a new cooperation framework with the agency itself,” Araghchi said, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. He added that any deal must address conditions outlined in legislation passed by Iran’s parliament, which restricts international oversight of the country’s nuclear program. 

Araghchi also said indirect communication continues with the United States over the possibility of reviving broader nuclear talks. “The day the Americans come to the conclusion that they have the readiness for negotiations based on common interests and mutual respect, we will also be ready to begin dialogue,” he stated. 

Diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran have been on hold since June, when a planned round of negotiations in Oman was canceled after a sharp escalation in the region. Israel carried out airstrikes on June 13 against Iranian military and nuclear facilities, followed by US strikes on three nuclear sites on June 22. In response, Iran’s parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA and imposed restrictions on the agency’s inspectors. 

The IAEA has long sought full access to Iran’s nuclear facilities, arguing it is essential for monitoring compliance with international agreements.