Iran hails 'constructive' talks with visiting IAEA chief Rafael Grossi

Iran's nuclear body said it held "constructive" talks on Tuesday with the visiting head of the International Atomic Energy Agency amid tensions over a US bid to reimpose UN sanctions.

"Today's talks were constructive," the head of Iran's atomic agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, said after meeting IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi.

"It was decided that the agency continue its work professionally and independently and Iran, too, act in the framework of its commitments," he said, quoted by state news agency IRNA.

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The UNnuclear watchdog's chief Rafael Grossi arrived in the country on Mondayas he seekedaccess for inspectors to two suspected former atomic sites after a months-long standoff between Tehran and the body.

Tehran said Grossi's visit would "strengthen ties and build trust" between Tehran and the IAEA. However, in a statement on Saturday, Grossi said he would address "the outstanding questions, in particular, the issue of the access".

"As long as the IAEA moves based on impartiality, independence and distances itself from political pressure of another countries, there will be no problems between the IAEA and Tehran,"Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters, state TV reported.

A seniorIranian nuclear official said on Sunday that the IAEA wanted access and inspection of "two places", one near Tehran and the other near the central city of Isfahan.

Grossi's visit comes after Washington's last week pushed at the UNSecurity Council to reimpose international sanctions on Tehran that were lifted underIran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

However,Iranian authorities said Grossi's visit was not related to the USmove to return all sanctions onIran, which other parties to the deal - Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, have not supported.

In 2018, President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement and reimposed some sanctions that have crippled Tehran's economy.Iranhas retaliated by reducing compliance with the pact's restrictions.

Khatibzadeh said Grossi would meet high-rankingIranian officials during his visit, including the foreign minister and the country's nuclear chief.