UN nuclear watchdog chief to discuss Iran deal with Trump official

EghtesadOnline: The chief of the UN atomic watchdog will hold talks on Iran's nuclear deal on Thursday for the first time with senior officials from the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has branded it "the worst deal ever negotiated", Reuters reported.

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02 March 2017

The 2015 deal between Tehran and major powers places restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic, according to ILNA.

The accord will be the main topic of Yukiya Amano's talks in Washington, officials involved in the dealings of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday.

Trump's Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who has called for a "full review" of the accord, is among the senior U.S. officials Amano will meet, they said.

Amano, whose agency is in charge of policing those nuclear restrictions under the deal, has publicly argued in favour of the agreement, describing it as a "net gain".

But Trump, who took office on Jan. 20, has said he wants to "police that contract so tough they don't have a chance".

"IAEA Director General Amano will meet with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and other senior U.S. officials in Washington on Thursday, March 2," an IAEA spokesman said on Wednesday, declining to elaborate.

Amano has previously said he hopes to hold an initial discussion with Trump administration officials "as soon as possible".