UN pushes Iran for ‘concrete’ cooperation on atomic programme

Grossi urges ‘practical and tangible measures’ as UN seeks to re-establish nuclear inspections.

The head of the United Nations nuclear body has called on Iran to increase its efforts to make cooperation tangible and “concrete”.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi urged Tehran on Tuesday to adopt “concrete” measures to foster collaboration. The UN is seeking to re-establish oversight of Iran’s atomic activities but has met various setbacks over how to implement a deal struck last year.

However, officials on both sides suggested that there is some distance between their positions.

At a news conference in the Iranian city of Isfahan, Grossi said he had proposed in talks with Iranian officials that they focus on “very practical and tangible measures that can be implemented in order to accelerate” cooperation.

“What we are looking at is concrete measures that could make this [the deal] operational,” the IAEA head said.