TEHRAN: The UN nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday it was seeking “common ground” with Iran days after reporting that the Islamic republic had sharply increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

       International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi made the remarks after meeting with officials including Iran’s atomic energy chief in Tehran ahead of negotiations next week aimed at salvaging the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

       Grossi also met with Iran’s foreign minister, who urged the IAEA to “avoid taking political positions”.

       The visit comes after the IAEA said Iran had boosted its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to many times in excess of the limit laid down in the landmark accord.

       “Our work has been intense since the morning,” Grossi said at a joint news conference in Tehran with Mohammad Eslami, the chief of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran.

       Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2021