Rafael Grossi, IAEA director general, said his latest talks with Tehran were 'inconclusive'. EPA
Rafael Grossi, IAEA director general, said his latest talks with Tehran were 'inconclusive'. EPA
Rafael Grossi, IAEA director general, said his latest talks with Tehran were 'inconclusive'. EPA
Rafael Grossi, IAEA director general, said his latest talks with Tehran were 'inconclusive'. EPA

IAEA chief reports 'no progress' in talks with Iran


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The head of the UN nuclear watchdog on Wednesday said there had been "no progress" in talks with Iran to resolve disputes over the monitoring of the country's atomic programme, a day after returning from Tehran.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told a quarterly meeting of the agency's board that his talks in Tehran were "inconclusive".

Mr Grossi had sought to tackle constraints put on the agency's inspections this year, outstanding questions over the presence of undeclared nuclear material at sites in Iran and the treatment of IAEA staff in the country.

"In terms of the substance ... we were not able to make progress," Mr Grossi told reporters, saying that the lack of agreement had come "in spite of my best efforts".

Time running out to end camera stand-off

Mr Grossi said the IAEA was running out of time to end a stand-off over reinstalling surveillance cameras at a centrifuge-parts workshop that was the victim of alleged sabotage in June.

"We are close to the point where I would not be able to guarantee continuity of knowledge," he said, referring to a long gap in access to the workshop at the Tesa Karaj complex, north-west of Tehran, where the IAEA wants to reinstall cameras removed by Iran after what it said was an attack by Israel.

In Tehran, Mr Grossi met Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, among other officials.

The talks came before the scheduled resumption on Monday of negotiations between Tehran and world powers aimed at reviving the 2015 deal that gave Iran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Iran began moving away from its commitments under the deal in 2019, a year after then-president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the accord and began reimposing tough sanctions.

Mohammad Eslami (R) welcoming director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, in Tehran. EPA
Mohammad Eslami (R) welcoming director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, in Tehran. EPA

One of the steps away from the deal came this year when Iran began restricting some IAEA inspection activity.

Iran and the agency have a temporary agreement, which gives the IAEA access to monitoring equipment at Iran's nuclear facilities.

However, the IAEA has given a warning that the agreement is not a durable solution and Mr Grossi said he had raised concerns while in Tehran about security checks on inspectors, which the agency described as "excessively invasive".

He said the IAEA and Iran had a legal agreement, "which is intended to protect inspectors from intimidation, from seizure of their property".

"Our Iranian colleagues have instituted a number of measures which are simply incompatible" with this, he said.

Iranian nuclear sites - in pictures

  • Russian contractors work at the Bushehr nuclear reactor site in 2007. The plant opened four years later. Bloomberg
    Russian contractors work at the Bushehr nuclear reactor site in 2007. The plant opened four years later. Bloomberg
  • An Iranian technician at the International Atomic Energy Agency inspects the country's Isfahan plant in 2007. Tehran is no longer co-operating with the agency at nuclear sites across the country. EPA
    An Iranian technician at the International Atomic Energy Agency inspects the country's Isfahan plant in 2007. Tehran is no longer co-operating with the agency at nuclear sites across the country. EPA
  • Workers wait to begin constructing a second reactor at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in 2019. AFP
    Workers wait to begin constructing a second reactor at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in 2019. AFP
  • A metal-encased rod with 20 per cent enriched nuclear fuel is inserted into a reactor in Tehran in 2012. AFP
    A metal-encased rod with 20 per cent enriched nuclear fuel is inserted into a reactor in Tehran in 2012. AFP
  • Fomer Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the country's Atomic Energy Organisation chief Ali Akbar Salehi speak at the Bushehr nuclear site in 2015. AFP
    Fomer Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the country's Atomic Energy Organisation chief Ali Akbar Salehi speak at the Bushehr nuclear site in 2015. AFP
  • Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant has been restarted. EPA
    Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant has been restarted. EPA
  • Mehdi Abrichamtchi, chairman of the Peace and Security Committee at the National Council of Resistance of Iran, shows journalists the location of a secret nuclear site in Iran in 2013. AFP
    Mehdi Abrichamtchi, chairman of the Peace and Security Committee at the National Council of Resistance of Iran, shows journalists the location of a secret nuclear site in Iran in 2013. AFP
  • Workers prepare to begin the construction of a second reactor at the Bushehr site. AFP
    Workers prepare to begin the construction of a second reactor at the Bushehr site. AFP
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THE BIO

Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

The lowdown

Badla

Rating: 2.5/5

Produced by: Red Chillies, Azure Entertainment 

Director: Sujoy Ghosh

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

How to tell if your child is being bullied at school

Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety

Shows signs of depression or isolation

Ability to sleep well diminishes

Academic performance begins to deteriorate

Changes in eating habits

Struggles to concentrate

Refuses to go to school

Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings

Begins to use language they do not normally use

Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

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The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Power: 575bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: Dh554,000

On sale: now

The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio

Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)

Engine 4.7L V8

Transmission Six-speed automatic

Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm

Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km

Updated: November 24, 2021, 1:35 PM