Iran, IAEA chief say talks in Tehran were 'constructive'

Talks with the U.N. nuclear watchdog's chief were constructive, Iran's top nuclear official Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying on Tuesday, after meeting Rafael Grossi during a visit to seek access for inspectors to two suspected former atomic sites.

Grossi's trip comes after Washington last week pressed the U.N. Security Council to reimpose sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, from which the United States has withdrawn.

Iranian authorities said Grossi's visit was not related to U.S. moves to reimpose sanctions.

"Our conversation today was very constructive. It was agreed that the agency will carry out its independent and professional responsibilities and Iran will fulfil its legal commitments," said Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, according to the Students News Agency ISNA.

"A new chapter of cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will start." The IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution in June putting pressure on Iran to let inspectors into the sites because they could still host undeclared nuclear material, or traces of it.

Grossi said on Saturday he would address "the outstanding questions, in particular, the issue of the access".

"There is no political approach towards Iran ... There are issues that need to be addressed ... this does not mean a political approach towards Iran," Grossi said after meeting Salehi.

Tehran said on Monday that Grossi's visit would "strengthen ties and build trust" between Tehran and the IAEA, "as long as the IAEA moves based on impartiality, independence and distances itself from political pressure of another countries".

"The IAEA will not let third countries impact its relations with any other country," Grossi said, according to Iranian media.

Grossi will meet President Hassan Rouhani, the foreign minister and other senior officials during his visit.