The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog hopes to visit Iran soon for talks with new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to a confidential report seen by AFP on Thursday.

Tensions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have repeatedly flared since a 2015 deal curbing Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanction relief fell apart.

In recent years, Tehran has decreased its cooperation with the IAEA by deactivating surveillance devices needed to monitor the nuclear programme and barred UN inspectors.

In the report, Grossi said he hoped "an early visit" to Iran would help the "establishment of a fluid, constructive dialogue that swiftly leads to concrete results".

Following his election in July, Pezeshkian indicated that he would meet with Grossi "at the appropriate juncture", the report said.

Grossi last visited Iran in May, in a bid to improve cooperation with Tehran, which was at a level he described at the time as "completely unsatisfactory".

At the same time, Iran has significantly ramped up its nuclear programme and now has enough material to build several atomic bombs.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiQ9urc25qIAxXZ8DgGHTaqDhMQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-to-deliver-calculated-response-to-zionist-regime-in-israel-claims-armed-forces-chief-754194" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-to-deliver-calculated-response-to-zionist-regime-in-israel-claims-armed-forces-chief-754194&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiQ9urc25qIAxXZ8DgGHTaqDhMQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">Iran to deliver calculated response to `Zionist` regime in Israel, claims armed forces chief</a>

In a separate confidential report seen by AFP ahead of an IAEA board of governors' meeting next week, the agency said Iran has further increased its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium in recent months.

The report said that Iran has an estimated amount of 164.7 kilogrammes enriched to up to 60 per cent -- just a short step from bomb-grade material.&nbsp;

The amount is up by 22.6 kilogrammes since the last report in May.

Iran has always denied any ambition to develop nuclear weapons, insisting its activities are entirely for peaceful purposes.

The landmark 2015 deal started to unravel in 2018 when then-US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from it and reimposed sanctions, and Iran retaliated by stepping up its nuclear activities.

Watch:&nbsp;Iran operated fake HR firms to root out spies

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EU-mediated efforts to revive the deal -- bringing the US back on board and Iran back into compliance -- have so far been fruitless.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog hopes to visit Iran soon for talks with new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to a confidential report seen by AFP on Thursday.

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog hopes to visit Iran soon for talks with new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to a confidential report seen by AFP on Thursday. Tensions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have repeatedly flared since a 2015 deal curbing Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanction relief fell apart. In recent years, Tehran has decreased its cooperation with the IAEA by deactivating surveillance devices needed to monitor the nuclear programme and barred UN inspectors. In the report, Grossi said he hoped "an early visit" to Iran would help the "establishment of a fluid, constructive dialogue that swiftly leads to concrete results". Following his election in July, Pezeshkian indicated that he would meet with Grossi "at the appropriate juncture", the report said. Grossi last visited Iran in May, in a bid to improve cooperation with Tehran, which was at a level he described at the time as "completely unsatisfactory". At the same time, Iran has significantly ramped up its nuclear programme and now has enough material to build several atomic bombs. Also read: Iran to deliver calculated response to `Zionist` regime in Israel, claims armed forces chief In a separate confidential report seen by AFP ahead of an IAEA board of governors' meeting next week, the agency said Iran has further increased its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium in recent months. The report said that Iran has an estimated amount of 164.7 kilogrammes enriched to up to 60 per cent -- just a short step from bomb-grade material. The amount is up by 22.6 kilogrammes since the last report in May. Iran has always denied any ambition to develop nuclear weapons, insisting its activities are entirely for peaceful purposes. The landmark 2015 deal started to unravel in 2018 when then-US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from it and reimposed sanctions, and Iran retaliated by stepping up its nuclear activities. Watch: Iran operated fake HR firms to root out spies × EU-mediated efforts to revive the deal -- bringing the US back on board and Iran back into compliance -- have so far been fruitless. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

IAEA chief hoping to engage new Iranian government amid increasing uranium stockpile

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged Iran to stick to its commitments under<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-has-broken-enriched-uranium-stockpile-limit-set-by-2015-nuclear-deal-232067"> the nuclear deal </a>and address differences through a dispute mechanism, his spokesman said.&nbsp;

Iran earlier said it had exceeded a limit established under the deal on its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/iran-nuclear-deal-is-hanging-by-a-thread-224862">stockpile of low-enriched uranium.</a>&nbsp;

"It is essential that this issue, like other issues related to the implementation of the plan, be addressed through the mechanisms established in the JCPOA," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Watch: Iran confirms the breach of Uranium Limit

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The JCPOA is the formal name of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the nuclear deal is known.

Guterres encourages Iran "to continue implementing all its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA," said Dujarric.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier said Iran had crossed the 300 kilogram limit imposed under the nuclear deal.&nbsp;

Tehran has sought to pressure the remaining parties to save the deal by announcing that it would no longer abide by some of its commitments.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged Iran to stick to its commitments under the nuclear deal and address differences through a dispute mechanism, his spokesman said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged Iran to stick to its commitments under the nuclear deal and address differences through a dispute mechanism, his spokesman said. Iran earlier said it had exceeded a limit established under the deal on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium. "It is essential that this issue, like other issues related to the implementation of the plan, be addressed through the mechanisms established in the JCPOA," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Watch: Iran confirms the breach of Uranium Limit The JCPOA is the formal name of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the nuclear deal is known. Guterres encourages Iran "to continue implementing all its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA," said Dujarric. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier said Iran had crossed the 300 kilogram limit imposed under the nuclear deal. Tehran has sought to pressure the remaining parties to save the deal by announcing that it would no longer abide by some of its commitments.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urges Iran to stick to nuclear deal after breaching cap

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-has-broken-enriched-uranium-stockpile-limit-set-by-2015-nuclear-deal-232067">Iran says it has broken enriched uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal</a> 
 
Iran has breached a 300kg (660lb) limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/violent-clashes-as-hong-kong-marks-china-handover-anniversary-232056">Violent clashes as Hong Kong marks China handover anniversary</a> 
 
The angry scenes ramped up tensions in the financial hub which has been rocked by three weeks of historic demonstrations against a hugely unpopular bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/water-crisis-in-india-centre-sends-out-250-civil-servants-to-driest-areas-232082">Water crisis in India: Centre sends out 250 civil servants to driest areas&nbsp;</a> 
 
India's monsoon, which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the country's annual rainfall, turned patchy in the first month of the season that began on June 1.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/samajwadi-party-will-support-extension-of-presidents-rule-in-jammu-kashmir-ram-gopal-yadav-232008">Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal to support extension of President's Rule in Jammu &amp; Kashmir</a> 
 
On June 28, Lok Sabha approved the statutory resolution to extend President's Rule in Jammu &amp; Kashmir with effect from July 3rd, 2019.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-gun-battle-rages-in-kabul-after-blast-injures-100-taliban-claims-responsibility-231998">Afghanistan: Gun battle rages in Kabul after blast injures 100, Taliban claims responsibility</a>

A blast in the Afghan capital on Monday was part of an attack by Taliban fighters targeting the defence ministry compound in Kabul, the Islamist militant group said in a statement.

Iran says it has broken enriched uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal Iran has breached a 300kg (660lb) limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Iran says it has broken enriched uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal Iran has breached a 300kg (660lb) limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Violent clashes as Hong Kong marks China handover anniversary The angry scenes ramped up tensions in the financial hub which has been rocked by three weeks of historic demonstrations against a hugely unpopular bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland. Water crisis in India: Centre sends out 250 civil servants to driest areas India's monsoon, which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the country's annual rainfall, turned patchy in the first month of the season that began on June 1. Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal to support extension of President's Rule in Jammu & Kashmir On June 28, Lok Sabha approved the statutory resolution to extend President's Rule in Jammu & Kashmir with effect from July 3rd, 2019. Afghanistan: Gun battle rages in Kabul after blast injures 100, Taliban claims responsibility A blast in the Afghan capital on Monday was part of an attack by Taliban fighters targeting the defence ministry compound in Kabul, the Islamist militant group said in a statement.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Iran has breached the limit of its enriched uranium stockpile set in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/iran-nuclear-deal-is-hanging-by-a-thread-224862">2015 nuclear deal</a> with major powers, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday, according to the ISNA news agency, defying a warning by European co-signatories to stick to the deal despite US sanctions.

Zarif confirmed that Iran had exceeded the relevant limit of 300 kg of uranium hexafluoride (UF6), but Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Iran's steps to decrease its commitments to the nuclear deal were "reversible".

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that its inspectors were verifying whether Iran had accumulated more enriched uranium than allowed.&nbsp;

"Our inspectors are on the ground and they will report to headquarters as soon as the LEU (low-enriched uranium) stockpile has been verified, a spokesman for the U.N. agency said.

Enriching uranium to a low level of 3.6% fissile material is the first step in a process that could eventually allow Iran to amass enough highly-enriched uranium to build a nuclear warhead.

Last Wednesday, the IAEA verified that Iran had roughly 200 kg of low-enriched uranium, just below the deal’s 202.8 kg limit, three diplomats who follow the agency’s work told Reuters. A quantity of 300 kg of UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) corresponds to 202.8 kg of LEU.&nbsp;

After talks on Friday in Vienna, Iran said European countries had offered too little in the way of trade assistance to persuade it to back off from its plan to breach the limit, a riposte to U.S. President Donald Trump`s decision last year to quit the deal and reimpose economic sanctions.

Mousavi urged them on Monday to step up their efforts. "Time is running out for them to save the deal," state TV quoted him Mousavi as saying.&nbsp;

The deal between Iran and six world powers lifted most international sanctions against Iran in return for restrictions on its nuclear work aimed at extending the time Iran would need to produce a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, from roughly 2-3 months to a year.

Israel worried

Iran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, including generating power. Its regional adversary Israel, which Iran does not recognise, says the program presents it with an existential threat.&nbsp;

Joseph Cohen, head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, urged the international community to stop Iran from "stepping up enrichment".

"Just imagine what will happen if the material stockpiled by the Iranians becomes fissionable, at military enrichment grade, and then an actual bomb," he told the Herzliya security conference before Zarif's announcement.

"The Middle East, and then the entire world, will be a different place. Therefore, the world must not allow this to happen."&nbsp; 
In May, Washington piled pressure on Tehran by ordering all countries to halt imports of Iranian oil, and tensions have been growing in the Gulf ever since.

Washington has dispatched extra forces to the Middle East, and U.S. fighter jets came within minutes of conducting air strikes on Iran last month after Tehran downed an unmanned American drone.

In a speech on Monday broadcast on state TV, Iranian Zarif said: "Iran will never yield to pressure from the United States ... If they want to talk to Iran, they should show respect ...

"Never threaten an Iranian ... Iran has always resisted pressure, and has responded with respect when respected."

Trump has called for negotiations with Iran with "no preconditions", but Tehran has ruled out talks until the United States returns to the nuclear pact and drops its sanctions.

Iran has breached the limit of its enriched uranium stockpile set in a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday, according to the ISNA news agency, defying a warning by European co-signatories to stick to the deal despite US sanctions.

Iran has breached the limit of its enriched uranium stockpile set in a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday, according to the ISNA news agency, defying a warning by European co-signatories to stick to the deal despite US sanctions. Zarif confirmed that Iran had exceeded the relevant limit of 300 kg of uranium hexafluoride (UF6), but Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Iran's steps to decrease its commitments to the nuclear deal were "reversible". The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that its inspectors were verifying whether Iran had accumulated more enriched uranium than allowed. "Our inspectors are on the ground and they will report to headquarters as soon as the LEU (low-enriched uranium) stockpile has been verified, a spokesman for the U.N. agency said. Enriching uranium to a low level of 3.6% fissile material is the first step in a process that could eventually allow Iran to amass enough highly-enriched uranium to build a nuclear warhead. Last Wednesday, the IAEA verified that Iran had roughly 200 kg of low-enriched uranium, just below the deal’s 202.8 kg limit, three diplomats who follow the agency’s work told Reuters. A quantity of 300 kg of UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) corresponds to 202.8 kg of LEU. After talks on Friday in Vienna, Iran said European countries had offered too little in the way of trade assistance to persuade it to back off from its plan to breach the limit, a riposte to U.S. President Donald Trump`s decision last year to quit the deal and reimpose economic sanctions. Mousavi urged them on Monday to step up their efforts. "Time is running out for them to save the deal," state TV quoted him Mousavi as saying. The deal between Iran and six world powers lifted most international sanctions against Iran in return for restrictions on its nuclear work aimed at extending the time Iran would need to produce a nuclear bomb, if it chose to, from roughly 2-3 months to a year. Israel worried Iran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, including generating power. Its regional adversary Israel, which Iran does not recognise, says the program presents it with an existential threat. Joseph Cohen, head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, urged the international community to stop Iran from "stepping up enrichment". "Just imagine what will happen if the material stockpiled by the Iranians becomes fissionable, at military enrichment grade, and then an actual bomb," he told the Herzliya security conference before Zarif's announcement. "The Middle East, and then the entire world, will be a different place. Therefore, the world must not allow this to happen." In May, Washington piled pressure on Tehran by ordering all countries to halt imports of Iranian oil, and tensions have been growing in the Gulf ever since. Washington has dispatched extra forces to the Middle East, and U.S. fighter jets came within minutes of conducting air strikes on Iran last month after Tehran downed an unmanned American drone. In a speech on Monday broadcast on state TV, Iranian Zarif said: "Iran will never yield to pressure from the United States ... If they want to talk to Iran, they should show respect ... "Never threaten an Iranian ... Iran has always resisted pressure, and has responded with respect when respected." Trump has called for negotiations with Iran with "no preconditions", but Tehran has ruled out talks until the United States returns to the nuclear pact and drops its sanctions.

Iran says it has broken enriched uranium stockpile limit set by 2015 nuclear deal