Rafael Grossi's Crucial Mission: Easing the Nuclear Tension with Iran

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, will visit Iran to engage in talks about its controversial nuclear program. The visit aims to address longstanding issues, including Iran's restriction of uranium-enrichment expert inspections and its escalating nuclear activities since 2019, following the breakdown of the 2015 nuclear deal.

Rafael Grossi, the chief of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, is set to visit Iran next Wednesday, as reported by state media on Sunday. The trip aims to initiate discussions with Iranian officials the following day, addressing the country's contentious nuclear program.

Long-standing issues between Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Western powers are at the heart of this visit, particularly Tehran's barring of uranium-enrichment experts from inspection teams and its failure to clarify uranium traces at undeclared sites. Since 2019, after then-President Donald Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran has increased its nuclear activity.

Iran's current uranium enrichment level has reached 60% fissile purity, nearing the 90% threshold required for nuclear weapons, according to the IAEA. Despite having enough enriched uranium for about four nuclear bombs, Iran maintains that its enrichment activities are solely for civilian energy purposes and denies any intention to develop nuclear weapons.

(With inputs from agencies.)