Nuclear watchdog chief expects broader US-Iran talks in Pakistan

ISTANBUL

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said Wednesday he expects the United States and Iran to hold talks this weekend in Islamabad, Pakistan, adding that the negotiations are likely to be broader in scope.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Grossi said the discussions are expected to cover missiles, Iran-aligned militias and security guarantees for Tehran.

“This time, there will also be missiles, militias allied with the Islamic Republic, security guarantees for Iran on the table,” he said.

Grossi said a temporary solution may be possible, stressing that it should not be military.

“There are alternative diplomatic plans that would allow both a solution that says that at the moment there will be no more enrichment because the political, military, and trust situation does not allow it; and, in principle, to reassess the issue in five or ten years’ time,” he added.

The US and Israel have maintained airstrikes on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.