Grossi Wants to Meet with Iran’s Pezeshkian ‘at Earliest Convenience’

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)
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Grossi Wants to Meet with Iran’s Pezeshkian ‘at Earliest Convenience’

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi speaks to the media at the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, US, March 15, 2023. (Reuters)

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi announced he intends to visit Tehran through a letter he addressed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Iranian Mehr Agency reported that Grossi sent a congratulatory message to the Iranian president-elect, which stated: “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on your election win as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“Cooperation between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Islamic Republic of Iran has been at the focal attention of the international circles for many years. I am confident that, together, we will be able to make decisive progress on this crucial matter.”

“To that effect, I wish to express my readiness to travel to Iran to meet with you at the earliest convenience,” Iran’s Mehr news agency quoted Grossi as saying.

The meeting – should it take place - will be the first for Pezeshkian, who had pledged during his election campaign to be open to the West to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.

Last week, American and Israeli officials told the Axios news site that Washington sent a secret warning to Tehran last month regarding its fears of Iranian research and development activities that might be used to produce nuclear weapons.

In May, Grossi expressed his dissatisfaction with the course of the talks he held over two days in Iran in an effort to resolve outstanding matters.

Since the death of the former Iranian president, Ibrahim Raisi, the IAEA chief refrained from raising the Iranian nuclear file, while European sources said that Tehran had asked to “freeze discussions” until the internal situation was arranged and a new president was elected.



Philippines, China Trade Accusations on South China Sea Confrontation

In this photo provided by the National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), a Chinese Coast Guard ship patrols the area as Philippine inter-agency members visit Sandy Cay 2 at the South China Sea on Sunday April 27, 2025. (National Task Force West Philippine Sea via AP)
In this photo provided by the National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), a Chinese Coast Guard ship patrols the area as Philippine inter-agency members visit Sandy Cay 2 at the South China Sea on Sunday April 27, 2025. (National Task Force West Philippine Sea via AP)
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Philippines, China Trade Accusations on South China Sea Confrontation

In this photo provided by the National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), a Chinese Coast Guard ship patrols the area as Philippine inter-agency members visit Sandy Cay 2 at the South China Sea on Sunday April 27, 2025. (National Task Force West Philippine Sea via AP)
In this photo provided by the National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), a Chinese Coast Guard ship patrols the area as Philippine inter-agency members visit Sandy Cay 2 at the South China Sea on Sunday April 27, 2025. (National Task Force West Philippine Sea via AP)

The Philippines and China gave conflicting versions on Thursday of a maritime confrontation around a contested shoal in the South China Sea, the latest incident in a longstanding dispute between the neighbors.

A Philippine Navy patrol near the disputed Scarborough Shoal encountered "aggressive and unsafe" movements by two Chinese Navy vessels earlier this week, the Philippine military said.

China's military, meanwhile, accused the Philippine frigate of "attempting to invade" the waters around the feature and said that it had organized naval and air forces to track and expel the vessel, in a statement released by its Southern Theatre Command.

The Scarborough Shoal, named for a British ship grounded on the atoll nearly three centuries ago, is one of Asia's most contested maritime features and a flashpoint for diplomatic flare-ups over sovereignty and fishing rights. "Such threatening and provocative conduct can lead to misunderstanding that may escalate tensions and impact regional stability," the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement.

China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

"(Scarborough Shoal) is China's inherent territory. We urge the Philippine side to immediately cease its infringement, provocation and distorted speculation," Tian Junli, a spokesman for China's Southern Theatre said.

"Theater troops are on high alert at all times, resolutely defending national sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, and resolutely maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea region," Tian added.