The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, warned Thursday that Iran and the United States are running out of time to reach a nuclear agreement, as the two sides prepare for a new round of negotiations this weekend.Delegations from both nations will meet in Rome on Saturday for a second round of indirect talks, mediated by Oman. The discussions come just a week after the highest-level e ngagement between the two countries since former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord in 2018.
“We are at a very critical stage in these important negotiations,” Grossi said during a visit to Tehran. “We know time is short, which is why I am here—to help facilitate this process. We are working hard and we want to succeed,” he said at a joint press conference with Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization. Still, he acknowledged the process remains “difficult.”
Grossi also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday. Araghchi led the first round of talks with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff last Saturday.
In remarks following their meeting, Araghchi called the talks with Grossi “useful” and stressed the IAEA’s potential role in a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue.
“The IAEA can play a crucial role in the peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear file in the coming months,” Araghchi said, while urging the agency to stay “clear of politics,” warning of “spoilers” attempting to derail the negotiations. He did not elaborate further.
‘Not Far’ From Bomb Capability
Before arriving in Tehran, Grossi told Le Monde that Iran was “not far” from acquiring the capacity to build a nuclear weapon.
Western powers have long accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons—an allegation Tehran has consistently denied.
In response to the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran gradually reduced its compliance, enriching uranium well beyond the limits of the original agreement, which offered sanctions relief in exchange for strict monitoring by the IAEA.
The agency’s latest report estimates that Iran now possesses roughly 274.8 kilograms (605 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity—well above the 3.67 percent limit under the 2015 accord, though still below the 90 percent needed for weapons-grade material.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has reinstated his “maximum pressure” strategy, reimposing harsh economic sanctions. In March, he sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling for talks while also warning of possible military action if Tehran refused.
According to a New York Times report Thursday, Trump recently blocked an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear sites, favoring diplomacy instead.
Conflicting Positions
Khamenei struck a cautious tone earlier this week, saying the U.S.-Iran talks had “started well” but might still fail. “The negotiations may or may not yield results,” he said Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Iran has held firm on its enrichment program. On Wednesday, Araghchi rejected a U.S. call to halt enrichment altogether, following Witkoff’s request that Iran return to the 3.67 percent ceiling set in 2015.
Araghchi said he hoped to begin negotiating a framework for a new agreement but stressed that would require “constructive positions” from Washington. “If we continue to receive contradictory and conflicting signals, we’re going to face serious problems,” he warned.
While in Moscow on a pre-arranged visit Thursday, Araghchi said he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day. “Our regular exchanges with Russia and China have helped us align our positions,” he said upon arrival.
In a related development, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khaled bin Salman visited Tehran, reportedly delivering a message from King Salman to Supreme Leader Khamenei, according to Khamenei’s official website.
During his presidency, Trump had attempted to build a regional alliance between Israel and Gulf Arab states to counter Iran. However, relations shifted in 2023 when Tehran and Riyadh restored diplomatic ties in a deal brokered by China. The outbreak of the Gaza war later that year strained ties between Arab states and Israel.
