Iran says to send delegation to Vienna for talks with IAEA

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks to the media during a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following their talks in Moscow, Russia, Aug 31, 2022. (MAXIM SHEMETOV / POOL / AP)

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Wednesday that an Iranian delegation will travel to Vienna in the coming days for talks on enhancing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), official news agency IRNA reported.

Speaking to a joint press conference with his visiting Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad in Tehran, Amir-Abdollahian said President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami and IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi have agreed on the arrangement.

He expressed hope for progress to be made in the talks as long as the IAEA sticks to a technical approach and follows an agreement it reached with AEOI on the nuclear watchdog's "certain accusations against Iran."

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed hope for progress to be made in the talks as long as the IAEA sticks to a technical approach and follows an agreement it reached with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran on the nuclear watchdog's "certain accusations against Iran"

Amir-Abdollahian was referring to the IAEA report of Iran not providing "technically credible explanations" for nuclear activities at three undeclared sites, and the ensuing anti-Iran resolution passed by its Board of Governors in June. Iran has repeatedly said the claims are based on "fabricated and false information."

ALSO READ: IAEA report: Iran expanding enrichment at Natanz site

Besides, indirect exchange of messages still continues between Tehran and Washington over the nuclear talks in Vienna, Amir-Abdollahian noted.

Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear program in return for removing sanctions on the country. However, Washington quit the agreement and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran in 2018, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact.

The talks on the JCPOA's revival began in April 2021 in Vienna. No breakthrough was achieved after the latest round of talks in early August.

ALSO READ: Israel 'ready' to share nuclear tech with Abraham Accords states

In this file photo, international flags flutter outside of the UN headquarters during the opening of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria on Sept 10, 2018. (JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

'US-Saudi-sponsored' individuals arrested

Separately, Iran has arrested three individuals linked with the recent unrest in the country, who were sponsored by "the United States and Saudi Arabia," the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday.

The three persons, who were sponsored by "the United States and Saudi Arabia", were actively involved in the recent "riots" in Iran in the guise of citizen journalists, the semi-official Tasnim news agency cited an informed source as saying

The three persons were actively involved in the recent "riots" in Iran in the guise of citizen journalists, Tasnim cited an informed source as saying.

The source said the three arrestees "cooperated with American institution Tavana Tech and Saudi-sponsored television Iran International."

The source added the three people have received a remarkable amount of money from their American and Saudi sponsors to carry out their missions in Iran.

According to the source, the modus operandi of the people linked with these two institutions is using the "money laundering model," in which they receive money from foreigners and employ a method known as "news laundering" in providing them with news and information.

READ MORE: Iran blacklists European entities, individuals for inciting violence

Unrest erupted in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who died in a Tehran hospital a few days after collapsing at a police station in the Iranian capital.