Iran’s foreign minister set to meet with UN nuclear watchdog chief in Egypt

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to meet with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi in Cairo on Monday, Egyptian media said.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty will attend the planned meeting, the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported.

The meeting comes after a recent IAEA report indicating that Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% purity has increased by nearly 50%, reaching 408.6 kilograms, an amount the UN nuclear watchdog says could be sufficient for nine nuclear weapons if enriched further.

The IAEA findings emerged as indirect negotiations continued between Tehran and Washington to reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear program.

Araghchi, who is also Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, arrived in Cairo on Sunday as part of a regional tour that also includes Lebanon.