Grossi called for “practical and concrete steps” to accelerate cooperation in Tehran talks over Iran’s nuclear program.

The head of the United Nations nuclear agency called on Iran to step up efforts to make cooperation concrete and “concrete.”

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi on Tuesday called on Tehran to take “concrete” steps to boost cooperation. The United Nations is seeking to restore oversight of Iran’s nuclear activities but has faced various setbacks over how to implement an agreement signed last year.

However, officials on both sides suggested that there was some distance between their positions.

At a press conference in the Iranian city of Isfahan, Grossi said he proposed that his talks with Iranian officials focus on “very real, concrete steps that can be taken to accelerate cooperation.” .

“What we are considering are concrete measures that will make this possible. [the deal] It is operational,” the IAEA chief said.

Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Agency, insisted that his meeting with Grossi was positive and productive.

“We continue to have dialogue on unresolved issues,” he said. “The important point is that Mr. Grossi will take the necessary actions to resolve primarily political issues.”

No new contract

While they said no new agreement would be reached immediately during Grossi’s visit, they pointed to the March 2023 joint statement as a path forward for cooperation.

The statement said Iran would resolve issues surrounding the site, where inspectors have questions about possible undeclared nuclear activity, and allow the IAEA to “conduct further appropriate verification and monitoring activities.” It contained a pledge.

Iran and the IAEA have often clashed over the U.N. agency’s mandate to monitor its nuclear program, which Western countries suspect is ultimately aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Tehran denies any desire to build nuclear weapons.

Iran has enriched uranium to a purity of 60%, close to 90% weapons-grade. If the material were further enriched, it would be equivalent to two nuclear weapons, according to official IAEA standards. No other nation has become so wealthy without using it to produce weapons.

Grossi has already warned that the Iranian government has enriched uranium close to weapons grade, enough to build “several” nuclear bombs if it wanted to.

He acknowledged that the agency cannot guarantee that Iranian centrifuges could not have been stripped for clandestine enrichment.