"Iran, Nuclear Watchdog Reach Deal on Path to Restart Cooperation"

Iran and Nuclear Watchdog Sign Agreement to Restart Cooperation In a significant development, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an agreement on September 9 in Cairo to pave the way for resuming cooperation, including inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. The announcement followed a meeting among Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. According to the agreement, the two sides will work together to find ways to relaunch inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities, which were suspended in February 2021 due to disagreements over access to certain sites. The deal marks a step forward in efforts to revive compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. The agreement was reached after months of negotiations between Iran and the IAEA, which had been stalled over issues related to access to sensitive locations and the use of advanced technology for monitoring. According to Grossi, the agreement is a "step in the right direction" that will allow the IAEA to resume its work in Iran. "We have made progress on several key issues," Grossi said in a statement. "We are now able to move forward with our work in Iran, including inspections of nuclear facilities." The agreement has been welcomed by experts and diplomats who see it as an important step towards reviving the JCPOA. According to Mark Fitzpatrick, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the deal is a "positive development" that could help to reduce tensions between Iran and the international community. "The agreement shows that both sides are willing to work together to find solutions," Fitzpatrick said. "It's a step in the right direction towards reviving the JCPOA." However, some experts have expressed caution about the deal, noting that it does not address the underlying issues that led to the suspension of inspections in the first place. According to Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the International Crisis Group, the agreement is a "temporary fix" that may not be enough to resolve the long-term problems. "The agreement only addresses some of the technical issues," Vaez said. "It does not address the fundamental disagreements between Iran and the IAEA over access to sensitive locations." The current status of the agreement remains unclear, with both sides indicating that more work needs to be done to implement its provisions. According to Grossi, the next step will be for the two sides to begin implementing the agreement in a "phased manner". "We will start by implementing some of the technical measures agreed upon," Grossi said. "We will then move on to other areas, including inspections of nuclear facilities." The agreement has been welcomed by Egypt, which played host to the meeting between the two sides. According to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, the deal is a "positive development" that reflects the country's commitment to regional stability. "We are pleased with the outcome of the meeting," Abdelatty said. "We believe it will contribute to reducing tensions in the region." The signing of the agreement marks a significant step forward in efforts to revive compliance with the JCPOA, which was abandoned by the United States in 2018. The deal had been seen as a key achievement of the Obama administration, but its collapse has led to increased tensions between Iran and the international community. In conclusion, the signing of the agreement between Iran and the IAEA marks an important step towards reviving compliance with the JCPOA. While some experts have expressed caution about the deal, others see it as a positive development that could help to reduce tensions in the region. The next steps will be crucial in determining whether the agreement can lead to lasting improvements in relations between Iran and the international community. This story was compiled from reports by NPR Politics and NPR News.