Iran Holds Technical and Structured Negotiations with MAGATE

• Negotiations with MAGATE are expected to be structured technical processes.
• Iran has severed ties with the agency following airstrikes from the USA and Israel.
• Inspection limitations may affect the nuclear program of Tehran.

TEHRAN — Negotiations between Iran and the international atomic energy agency (MAGATE) will be "technical" and "structured," stated the representative of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday ahead of the planned visit of the agency's representatives, which will take place for the first time since the severance of ties between Tehran and the organization a month ago.

Relations between the sides have deteriorated following 12 days of retaliatory strikes conducted by Israel and the USA in June, resulting in the destruction of key nuclear facilities in Iran. On June 12, MAGATE reported that Iran had violated its obligations regarding non-proliferation, on the day before the start of Israeli airstrikes, which targeted military facilities.

MAGATE has not yet issued a statement regarding the visit of the deputy director of the agency, who does not foresee access to Iranian nuclear facilities.

Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed journalists that a meeting may take place with the minister of foreign affairs Abbas Araghchi, "but it is still too early to predict the results of the negotiations, as they are technical, structured negotiations."

Baghaei also revealed a "unique situation" for MAGATE during wartime with Israel.

"The peaceful objects of the country that were under 24-hour surveillance have become a target for attacks, and the agency has maintained an unreasonable and rational reaction and has not justified this, as was required," he stated.

Araghchi previously indicated that cooperation with the agency now requires the approval of the highest security body of Iran, the Supreme National Security Council, and will relate to the resumption of cooperation between both sides. This decision, likely, will further limit the possibilities for inspectors to monitor the Tehran program, which included uranium to a level close to weaponization.

The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, on July 3, indicated the need to suspend cooperation with MAGATE after the USA carried out strikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities, which Israel had previously targeted in its airstrikes against Iran, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,100 people, including many military commanders. In response to this, Iranian strikes killed 28 people in Israel.

Iran previously limited MAGATE inspections as a pressure tactic in negotiations with the West, and it is currently unknown when negotiations between Tehran and Washington regarding the nuclear program will resume.

According to assessments from US intelligence and MAGATE, Iran is believed to have organized a nuclear weapons program in 2003, although Tehran claims it has enriched uranium to 60% — a short technical step from the level required for weapons-grade material, which stands at 90%.

Tags: Middle East/Politics