The IAEA has made clear that they desperately want a new monitoring deal with Iran, the last such deal having expired this summer. A deal is not yet made, but both sides reported constructive progress on the matter. IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi says he will visit Tehran soon to replace memory cards in monitoring cameras.
The IAEA has a lot of monitoring equipment in Iran, but no access to much of it since the monitoring deal expired. The weekend’s discussion was on servicing that equipment while they work on a new monitoring deal.
This is important because back in June, the Israeli sabotage attack on Karaj damaged some of the IAEA’s equipment. At least one camera was destroyed outright in this incident.
Ironically, a lot of the Iranian parliament’s push to dial back IAEA cooperation was the result of such sabotage attacks, trying to show that Iran takes them seriously even if the IAEA is largely silent on the matter.
More talks are planned, and could define the tone of IAEA relations with Iran’s new government. Iran’s government clearly wants to be somewhat reasonable, but hardliners will resist any effort to offer too much.
This is very positive news.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/9/6/frances-total-signs-mega-oil-and-gas-deals-with-iraq
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/6/8/iraq-plans-nuclear-power-plants-to-tackle-electricity-shortage
Who can recall perusing articles depicting serious existential issues with any nation quite like these describing Iraq? Syria belongs in the discussion.
Why the Iraqis would be expecting positive results from business deals with France’s Total than they received from Washington since 1991.
Some might suggest a uranium for oil deal that ensures, however unlikely, 6 nuclear plants will be built. They’ll have guaranteed uranium stores or mankind’s last energy source before resorting to felling trees.
A mass exodus from Iraq is looming and Iran may not be so willing to accept migrants. Washington-engineered chaos.