Al-Monitor | Bryant Harris: The head of a key nonproliferation watchdog is making the rounds in Washington this week to reassure the Donald Trump administration and Congress that its still capable of monitoring Iranian activity, even as the 2015 nuclear deal unravels.
Iran, which pulled out of the nuclear deal following the US assassination of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani last month, took center stage in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossis visit to the United States this week. Grossi sought to reassure Washington that the IAEA still has the ability to monitor Iran, even as it gears up to escalate its nuclear activity.
Its been the center of much of my discussions here in Washington, Grossi said at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Feb. 5. Its a bit of a paradox, because I am verifying noncompliance. But this is the way things are. And the ones to say whether they are comfortable or not with that are those who subscribe to the agreement, and I havent heard from them that I shouldnt be inspecting anymore.