The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, on Monday said he would travel to Tehran this week ahead of nuclear talks.

The talks would be between Iran and the United States (U.S.), according to Iranian media reports.

Mr Grossi is expected in Tehran on Wednesday.

“Continued engagement and cooperation with the agency will be essential at a time when diplomatic solutions are urgently needed,’’ Mr Grossi wrote on X.

Tehran’s lack of cooperation with IAEA inspectors is a leading cause of the growing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, along with its production of near-weapons-grade uranium.

The U.S. government and other Western states, including Israel, want to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear weapons.

During his first term in office, U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, which was intended to restrict Iran’s nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions.

After that, Tehran stopped complying with the terms of the agreement.

Mr Trump recently threatened military action if Iran did not agree to limit its nuclear programme.

On Saturday, the U.S. and Iran began talks in Muscat mediated by Oman on a possible new nuclear agreement.

Both sides described the more than two-hour consultations as respectful and constructive and agreed to continue.

The next round of talks is expected to take place in Rome on Saturday.

“Iran, the U.S. and Oman made a corresponding request, and we have given a positive response,” said Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, as reported by the ANSA news agency. 

(dpa/NAN)