Senior diplomats from Iran, Russia, and China have met with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general in Vienna, emphasizing the need for sustained cooperation and dialogue to boost diplomatic efforts.

Iran’s ambassador to United Nations organizations in the Austrian capital Vienna, Reza Najafi, together with his Russian and Chinese counterparts, Mikhail Ulyanov and Li Song, met the head of the UN nuclear watchdog Director General Rafael Grossi on Thursday, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN in Vienna said on X.

“Amb. Najafi together with Amb. Li and Amb. Ulyanov jointly met IAEA DG, emphasizing the continuation of cooperation and dialogue to support the ongoing diplomatic efforts and also highlight the opportunity for the IAEA to play a professional and constructive role in this regard,” the mission said.

This meeting comes following the conclusion of the second round of Iran’s indirect negotiations with United States in the Italian capital of Rome on April 19.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi highlighted the IAEA’s role in overseeing the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program and commented on Grossi’s concurrent presence in Rome.

“The Agency will be part of this process and will also have an important role. His presence is useful, though he is not yet involved in the negotiations themselves, as we haven’t reached that stage yet,” Iran’s top diplomat said at the time.

“Naturally, the UN nuclear watchdog will have a significant role in any potential agreement, as the responsibility for verification and monitoring of Iran’s commitments in the nuclear program lies with the IAEA. We also do not accept any institution other than the IAEA for verification in this regard,” he further stressed.

Araghchi also added that while the IAEA’s involvement is not currently required, its expert input can at times be useful during negotiations, as was the case in previous rounds when experts or the Director General were at times consulted.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica on April 20, Grossi, for his part, had expressed optimism about the ongoing indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US, describing it as “a positive day for peace.”

The third round of Iran-US indirect talks – expert-level technical negotiations – is scheduled to be held on Saturday – April 26 – in Muscat, the capital of Oman, where the first round was held.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly stressed that it has never functioned as the side to leave negotiations, while declaring it would respond positively to any potential positive steps by the counterparty.