HIGHDIPLOMATICVERIFIED
IAEA Director Grossi: White House and Iran contacts made — hopes to re-establish nuclear dialogue
·Washington DC / Vienna / Tehran
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said he has had important conversations at the White House and with Iran, establishing contacts with the goal of re-establishing nuclear dialogue. The statement is the first significant signal of nuclear diplomacy during the active war — a potential de-escalation track running parallel to the military campaign.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi told CBS News on Sunday that despite the escalating conflict, he has been in contact with both the White House and Iran with the goal of re-establishing nuclear talks.
'I've been having important conversations here at the White House, and also with Iran. There are some contacts, and we hope to be able to re-establish that line,' Grossi said.
The statement is significant because it represents the first publicly acknowledged diplomatic channel between Iran and the US mediated by the IAEA during the active war period. Nuclear talks had collapsed ahead of the February 28 Operation Roaring Lion/Epic Fury strikes.
Grossi's effort runs in parallel with the Kallas-led EU track (Araghchi calls on March 22) and the Trump-Hormuz ultimatum track. Whether the nuclear channel gains traction depends heavily on whether the Hormuz deadline (23:44 GMT March 23) produces a military response or a diplomatic extension.
iaeanucleardiplomacygrossiiranus
Actor responses
Iran has engaged in IAEA-mediated contacts per Grossi's statement — though no formal position on resuming nuclear talks has been publicly stated by Tehran.
White House has engaged with IAEA Director Grossi on nuclear dialogue contacts per his CBS News statement. No formal US confirmation of resumed nuclear talks.
Sources