Paul Pillar: Pezeshkian open to diplomacy on nuclear matters

Professor Paul Pillar, who was CIA intelligence analyst for 28 years, says given that President Pezeshkian appears open to diplomacy on nuclear matters, there probably is a good chance that Grossi will travel to Iran soon.

News ID: 5054

Date: 06 March 2025 - 10:28

TABNAK– Professor Paul Pillar, who was CIA intelligence analyst for 28 years, says given that President Pezeshkian appears open to diplomacy on nuclear matters, there probably is a good chance that Grossi will travel to Iran soon.

“There is unlikely to be any movement on the U.S. side on this topic before the election, and the Europeans realize that,” Pillar told Tabnak News Agency.

Following is the full text of the interview.

Q: In the new report of the International Atomic Energy Agency, there is talk about the increase of high-enriched uranium reserves by Iran. What is your assessment of this report?

A: The report describes a continued increase in 60 percent enriched uranium and a continued impasse regarding insufficient answers from Iran to questions about possible military activities in the past.  Thus, this is not a departure from the situation that has been prevailing for some time, although it does mean that Iran is that much closer to producing, if it chooses, the fissile material for several nuclear weapons.

Q: In this report, it is stated that Rafael Grossi, the director general of the agency, has expressed his hope to travel to Iran and have a constructive conversation with Masoud Pezeshkian. Will this trip happen soon?

A: Given that President Pezeshkian appears open to diplomacy on nuclear matters, there probably is a good chance that Grossi will travel to Iran soon.

Q: Some media announced that Iran has requested Europe to start nuclear negotiations. Do you think these talks will take place before the US presidential election?

A: There is unlikely to be any movement on the U.S. side on this topic before the election, and the Europeans realize that.  Moreover, not much progress toward a new agreement can be made without U.S. participation, and the Europeans surely realize that as well.  European leaders therefore are probably skeptical about how much could be accomplished in the meantime in any European-Iranian negotiations.  They might nonetheless have some sort of informal talks with Iran to explore possible formulas that later formal negotiations could consider.

Q: Can the agency's new report make it necessary to start talks?

A: There is no one report that necessitates negotiations. However, each such report of continued expansion of uranium enrichment by Iran raises the stakes a bit more and serves as a reminder that negotiations are needed to resolve what has for some time been a worrisome situation.