Iran committed to nuclear safeguards: Deputy FM

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Monday emphasized his country’s commitment to nuclear safeguards following a meeting he held with the United Nations’ nuclear chief Rafael Grossi in Vienna.

In a statement he posted on X, Gharibabadi stressed that Iran “remains committed to cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within the framework of its safeguards' obligations,” while also “safeguarding its national security and interests.”

Nuclear safeguards are IAEA protocols designed to ensure that nuclear materials and technology are used solely for peaceful purposes, and not diverted to the development of nuclear weapons.

Gharibabadi noted that he and Grossi “exchanged views on Iran-IAEA cooperation, the resolution of two outstanding issues, the security of nuclear facilities, the latest developments surrounding the nuclear issue, and the lifting of sanctions.”

For his part, the UN’s nuclear chief reaffirmed, in a statement he shared on X, that cooperation with the IAEA “is indispensable to provide credible guarantees of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.”

The meeting in Vienna comes shortly after Gharibabadi held talks with his Chinese and Russian counterparts in Beijing on Friday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that the meeting with the IAEA was “part of our ongoing engagement with the agency,” and that “as threats against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities have increased, it is natural for us to intensify consultations” with the agency.

Tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program have escalated recently. A December report by the IAEA suggested that Tehran plans to “significantly increase” its uranium enrichment to 60 percent, inching closer to the 90 percent required for a nuclear weapon.

For its part, Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, including energy production.

On March 7, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox Business that he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, asking that nuclear negotiations be restarted. He warned that “if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing for them [Iran].”

This move came after Trump had in February restored his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, in a bid to drive its oil exports down to zero. Trump argued that Iran is “too close” to obtaining nuclear weapons, but expressed interest in negotiating a deal with Tehran.

Tehran's foreign ministry confirmed the receipt of Trump’s letter on Friday, noting that “it is currently under review” and a decision will be made on how to respond after a thorough evaluation.

In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear deal with the P5+1, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany - to limit enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

However, the agreement began to unravel in 2018 when Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the accord and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran.

Tehran adhered to the deal for a year but gradually ramped up its nuclear activities afterward.

In recent months, Iran has held multiple rounds of talks with Britain, France, and Germany in attempts to revive the agreement.