Tillerson, Amano discuss Iran nuclear pact

EghtesadOnline: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held private talks with the head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency on Thursday in the first direct meeting between the outfit monitoring the Iranian nuclear accord and a senior official from the new US administration, which has been sharply critical of the 2015 deal.

News ID: ۷۴۰۱۴۵

04 March 2017

The US State Department’s public schedule listed the meeting between Tillerson and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano. But the department’s press arm offered no further details.

An IAEA spokesman told Washington Times that Amano was meeting with the US secretary of state “and other senior US officials in Washington”, but also declined to give other details, ILNA reported.

It is likely the meeting focused on the nuclear accord that the previous US administration helped broker between Iran and five other world powers, to lift economic sanctions on the Tehran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities.

Tillerson had earlier called for a “full review” of the accord. Amano, whose agency is in charge of monitoring Iran’s nuclear-related commitments under the deal, has publicly argued in favor of the agreement, describing it as a “net gain”.