Speaking with Axios's Margaret Talev, Grossi said it is "essential to have a deal" with Iran "because Iran has a very big, ambitious, sophisticated, developed nuclear program." Talev noted that the absence of a deal prevented the IAEA from monitoring Iran's nuclear program. ADVERTISEMENTThe IAEA said in May that it has not been able to access date necessary to monitor the Iranian nuclear program since February. Negotiations for Iran to reenter the nuclear deal are still ongoing in Vienna, with the US engaging indirectly through allies. However, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that there was “absolutely no connection” between the lifting of these sanctions and the Iranian nuclear deal negotiations.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 14, 2021 00:11 UTC