Nuclear watchdog urges 'trust but verify' that Iran engages in good-faith negotiations

Much remains chartless regarding the advancement of Washington’s nuclear talks with Iran, but the caput of the U.N. atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the planetary assemblage indispensable "trust but verify" that Tehran is engaging successful good-faith negotiations. 

The U.S. and Iran are acceptable to clasp a 3rd round of discussions connected Saturday, which volition woody with the method aspects of Iran's atomic program, arsenic good arsenic governmental negotiations, according to reports. 

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has applauded the U.S.-Iran negotiations mediated by Oman, but said the apical atomic bureau has not yet been asked to assistance successful the negotiations, though helium has been successful connection with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. 

US CONFIRMS THIRD ROUND OF NUCLEAR TALKS WITH IRAN AFTER ‘VERY GOOD PROGRESS’

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi looks connected arsenic helium addresses the media during the Board of Governors gathering successful Vienna connected Sept. 9, 2024.  (Reuters/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo)

"I deliberation there's a wide anticipation that this goes well, and that the statement is verified by the IAEA," Grossi told reporters from Washington, D.C., connected Wednesday. "It's bully the United States and Iran person a nonstop conversation. Of course, determination are parallel processes.

"We person to support our eyes connected the ball. We indispensable debar Iran oregon forestall Iran from getting weapons. This is the objective."

Grossi said that from the position of not lone the apical atomic agency, but from satellite leaders helium has been successful connection with, determination is simply a "degree of expectation" that aft the governmental agreements are hashed retired betwixt Washington and Tehran, it volition beryllium the IAEA that makes the atomic presumption "credible" and "verifiable."

"They each are expecting the IAEA to measurement successful astatine the close time," helium said. "We are astatine their work to support, to marque this happening credible. In a definite sense, they whitethorn person a governmental agreement, but past we person to marque it verifiable." 

IRAN’S LONG TRAIL OF DECEPTION FUELS SKEPTICISM OVER NEW NUCLEAR DEAL AS TALKS CONTINUE

An Iranian paper with a screen photograph of Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is seen successful Tehran, Iran, connected April 12.  (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)

Fox News Digital obtained a transcript of an code Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — who traveled to China connected Wednesday to reportedly sermon advancement successful the atomic negotiations — was acceptable to springiness astatine the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference, though helium ne'er delivered the code owed to format alteration requests by Tehran that were denied by the host. 

But successful his address, helium was acceptable to presumption Iran arsenic a proponent of atomic non-proliferation and said Iran’s presumption had been "mischaracterized."

Since the U.S.’ withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Tehran has argued made the woody mute, Iran has importantly precocious its programs by stockpiling near-weapons-grade-enriched uranium to levels that, if further enriched, could nutrient five atomic warheads, arsenic good arsenic its centrifuges and rocket capabilities. 

When asked by Fox News Digital if Grossi assessed the Islamic Republic’s presumption to beryllium honest, helium said, "Trust, but verify. We request to verify."

"We are inspectors — that's the lone mode we physique trust," helium added. 

Grossi said the medication needs to place what the extremity goals of this latest woody volition be, arsenic the model of the JCPOA — wide criticized by Trump — is present precise dated owed to the advancements Iran has made. 

This photograph released connected Nov. 5, 2019, by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran shows centrifuge machines successful the Natanz uranium enrichment installation successful cardinal Iran. (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP, File)

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Issues similar uranium stockpiles, inventories, centrifuge advances and weaponization capabilities are each connected the array successful the U.S.-Iran negotiations. 

"We person a overmuch much analyzable tract successful beforehand of us," Grossi warned. "The bully happening is we cognize what we request to look at. We person a unsocial position of that."