UN nuclear official in Iran as atomic accord unravels

Source: Middle East Affairs

Tehran-Ali-Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and acting director-general of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Cornel Feruta, held talks on Sunday in Tehran on the transparency of Iranian nuclear program and the IAEA’s monitoring of the nuclear site, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Feruta is in Tehran for meetings after Iran announced it would begin using advanced centrifuges prohibited by its 2015 atomic deal with world powers.

Iranian state television aired Sunday video of Cornel Feruta in the capital, Tehran.

Feruta is to meet Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister, and Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

Iran on Saturday announced it would begin using two types of advanced centrifuges.

Iran already has crept past limits the deal imposed on nuclear enrichment and its uranium stockpile. It is trying to pressure Europe to offer a way to sell crude oil abroad despite US sanctions.

The US pulled out of the nuclear deal over a year ago, raising tensions.