Head of the IAEA: “The communication channel with Iran has actually been lost”

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi called on Iran to resume engagement with the agency so inspectors can return to nuclear sites bombed by the United States and Israel a year ago.

As Reuters reports, speaking at a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna, Grossi admitted that “the communication channel with Tehran has actually been lost.” Iran has still not notified the agency about the fate of the destroyed facilities and the nuclear materials stored there, including uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. It is believed that much of the highly enriched uranium survived the bombings.

The United States, with the support of Great Britain, France and Germany, is seeking a resolution by the board of governors obliging Iran to provide “accurate information” about destroyed facilities and nuclear materials. Diplomats consider the resolution likely to pass, but fear it will complicate US-Iranian negotiations. Tehran warned the council that “coercion and confrontation do not lead to cooperation.”