UNITED NATIONS: The head of the UN atomic watchdog arrived in Iran on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), state media reported, for a visit aimed at improving cooperation on the Islamic republic’s nuclear activities. Rafael Mariano Grossi, on his first trip to Iran since taking the helm of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last year, is to meet with senior officials on Tuesday. He is expected to press for IAEA access to two nuclear sites in the talks with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the head of the country’s atomic agency, Ali Akbar Salehi. The US and European nations are at loggerheads after Washington began the process Thursday of activating a controversial mechanism aimed at restoring UN sanctions against Iran. Washington controversially maintains it has the right to force the reimposition of sanctions through the agreement’s “snapback” mechanism, despite its withdrawal.

Source: Manila Times August 25, 2020 16:30 UTC