Tehran, Iran - November 14, 2024 Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that the country is ready for nuclear negotiations, depending on how serious the other parties are in this regard. He made the statement following a meeting with visiting Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi earlier in the day in the Iranian capital, Tehran, according to Iran's Foreign Ministry. Araghchi described his talks with Grossi as "good and constructive," stressing that the two sides would "chart a new path for reducing tensions regarding the nuclear issue between Iran, the agency, and other parties." Also on Thursday, following a meeting with Grossi, Mohammad Eslami, president of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), warned that Tehran would respond promptly to any resolutions issued by the IAEA Board of Governors against the country. "Iran has consistently declared that any interference in its nuclear matters will face firm counteraction. Iran will not allow ineffective pressures [applied by the U.S. and Western nations] over the years. We will continue our plans based on Iran's national interests and security framework, and any [anti-Iran] resolution will give Iran the right to take countermeasures," said Eslami at a joint press conference with Grossi. The Iranian nuclear chief also expressed his willingness to maintain interactions with the IAEA. "If they choose the path of interaction, Iran would also interact in response," he said. For his part, Grossi emphasized that Iran's nuclear facilities should not be attacked. He made the remarks in response to a question about Israel's threats to attack Iran's nuclear sites, saying, "I have always stressed that nuclear installations should not be subject to any attack." According to Grossi, the agency and Iran have been cooperating for a long time, and "now is an important time to achieve palpable results and convey the message to the world that we choose a path other than confrontation." "The fact that action is being considered by some countries at the board of governors of the IAEA, the fact that international tensions and regional tensions do exist, these show that the space for negotiation and diplomacy is not getting bigger, is getting smaller. And it is in any case, my responsibility, as head of the IAEA, to always look for technically sound solutions that will widen the space for understandings," Grossi said at the press conference. Heading a delegation, Grossi arrived in Tehran Wednesday night for talks with Iranian officials, and is scheduled to visit Iran's Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities on Friday. His visit comes as several outstanding issues remain unresolved between Tehran and the IAEA, including the agency's claims of having found "traces of uranium" at a number of "undeclared" Iranian sites, which Iran has repeatedly rejected. Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions by the West. However, the United States withdrew from the agreement in May 2018, reinstating sanctions and prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments. Shotlist: Tehran, Iran - Nov 14, 2024: 1. Various of press conference in progress; Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi (L), President of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami (R); 2. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Mohammad Eslami, President, Iran's Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI): "Iran has consistently declared that any interference in its nuclear matters will face firm counteraction. Iran will not allow ineffective pressures [applied by the U.S. and Western nations] over the years. We will continue our plans based on Iran's national interests and security framework, and any [anti-Iran] resolution will give Iran the right to take countermeasures."; 3. Various of press conference in progress; 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rafael Grossi, director general, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): "The fact that action is being considered by some countries at the board of governors of the IAEA, the fact that international tensions and regional tensions do exist, these show that the space for negotiation and diplomacy is not getting bigger, is getting smaller. And it is in any case, my responsibility, as head of the IAEA, to always look for technically sound solutions that will widen the space for understandings."; 5. Grossi, Eslami shaking hands, posing for photo; 6. Various of camera crew. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV]