International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Thursday said “concrete, tangible, visible results” were needed in the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme to avoid a war, after he met top leaders in Tehran for talks on reviving a deal.
Mr Grossi, who began an official visit on Tuesday, is in the country for talks on allowing UN inspections of Tehran's nuclear compounds and resurrecting an agreement that collapsed in 2018. He met Iran's top leadership, including Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, the Tasnim news agency reported.
“We have a situation of tension,” Mr Grossi said. "The nuclear programme of Iran is at the centre of that. And I am here to work with Iran to find an adequate solution."
Mr Grossi is expected to meet President Masoud Pezeshkian later on Thursday. It is his second visit to Tehran this year. He said finding a solution to the nuclear dispute was crucial to “avoid the possibilities of war”.
“It is indispensable to get, at this point in time, to some concrete, tangible, visible results that will indicate that this joint work is improving the situation … and in a general sense is moving us away from conflict and ultimately war,” Mr Grossi said.
Iran is willing to resolve disputes with the IAEA over its compliance with safeguards for its atomic programme but will not do so under pressure, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after meeting Mr Grossi on Thursday.
Calling their discussions “important and straightforward”, Mr Araghchi said Iran will co-operate with the agency as a “committed member” of the international non-proliferation treaty.
“We agreed to proceed with courage and good will. Iran has never left the negotiation table on its peaceful nuclear programme,” Mr Araghchi wrote on X.
Tehran was willing to discuss the issue based on the “national interest” and “inalienable rights” but not “under pressure and intimidation”.
In a post on X, Mr Grossi described his meeting with Mr Araghchi as “indispensable”. Mr Araghchi was Iran's chief negotiator in talks that led to the 2015 nuclear deal, which collapsed in 2018 after US president-elect Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the agreement during his first term in the White House. The decision led Iran to resume its nuclear programme by rolling back on its commitment.
Mr Grossi also reiterated his opposition to any military strike on nuclear sites as against international law. “I say this with regards to Iran, nuclear installations should not be attacked,” he said.
Before his visit, Mr Grossi had said it was imperative to “find ways to reach diplomatic solutions” as “margins for manoeuvre are beginning to shrink”.
His comments came amid fears that Israel could be preparing to launch air strikes on Iranian nuclear compounds. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that Iran was “more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities”.
Mr Grossi said he was hopeful of achieving a breakthrough on nuclear inspections after Iran denied access to its sites for IAEA inspectors.
The agency claims Iran has significantly expanded its stocks of uranium enriched to 60 per cent, closer to the 90 per cent level needed to make a nuclear bomb. But Iran insists it never left the negotiation table and blames Mr Trump.
“The one who left the agreement was not Iran, it was America,” government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Wednesday. “Mr Trump once tried the path of maximum pressure and saw that this path did not work.”
Mr Eslami said Iran will take “immediate countermeasures” against any resolution by the agency that interferes with Iran’s nuclear programme.
World ranking (at month’s end)
Jan - 257
Feb - 198
Mar - 159
Apr - 161
May - 159
Jun – 162
Currently: 88
Year-end rank since turning pro
2016 - 279
2015 - 185
2014 - 143
2013 - 63
2012 - 384
2011 - 883
Bullet%20Train
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The biog
Occupation: Key marker and auto electrician
Hometown: Ghazala, Syria
Date of arrival in Abu Dhabi: May 15, 1978
Family: 11 siblings, a wife, three sons and one daughter
Favourite place in UAE: Abu Dhabi
Favourite hobby: I like to do a mix of things, like listening to poetry for example.
Favourite Syrian artist: Sabah Fakhri, a tenor from Aleppo
Favourite food: fresh fish
If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB) Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA) Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA) Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Messi, Pat Dobbs, Timo Keersmaekers
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA) Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
