Akshay DidwaniyaThere are no full scale negotiations between the US and Iran right now. Still, both sides keep informal contacts that could restart real dialogue soon, IAEA head Rafael Grossi said.
No Formal Talks, But Contacts Keep Going
The US and Iran have not started full scale negotiations yet. However, both countries maintain informal contacts that might lead to real dialogue soon. This was shared by International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi.
He spoke about US efforts to reach Iran through middlemen. Grossi explained the current state of things clearly.
Grossi said there is no negotiation process as such right now. He noted some individual contacts exist, including in New York this week. These contacts remain purely informal for now. He hopes they lead toward renewed dialogue.
Qatar Helps Broker Indirect Talks
A fresh round of indirect contact between Washington and Tehran is now underway. Qatar is acting as the mediator for this process.
Discussions center on an updated version of Iran’s seven day plan. The plan calls for a ceasefire first. After that, it proposes reopening the Strait of Hormuz. It also aims to restart talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
Different Mediators Stepped In Over Time
Grossi pointed out that various mediators have joined this process at different points. The path toward dialogue has not followed one single track.
Grossi added that this process went through several stages. Different mediators took part at different times, he explained. The nuclear issue is only one part of the picture, he said. Yet it remains important, since it sparked the conflict. That conflict later grew into something much wider, he noted.
The IAEA chief made these remarks from New York on September 29.
Aditya Didwaniya
Pratik Agrawal
