Ahead of Iran trip, UN nuke watchdog chief says ‘imperative’ to reach diplomatic solution

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi is set to visit Tehran today for crucial talks on Iran’s nuclear program, warning just ahead of his trip that room for maneuver is narrowing.

His visit comes only two days after Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the Islamic Republic is “more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities.”

Israel has long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies.

“The margins for maneuver are beginning to shrink,” Grossi says in an interview with AFP ahead of his visit, adding that “it is imperative to find ways to reach diplomatic solutions.”

While the IAEA is allowed to carry out inspections in Iran, Grossi stresses the need for “more visibility” into Iran’s nuclear program, given its scale and ambition.

“They have a lot of nuclear materials that could be used eventually to make a nuclear weapon, the IAEA chief tells CNN, adding: “They do not have a nuclear weapon at this point.”