Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that he met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday to discuss Iran ahead of sanctions deadline.
Grossi is in Washington ahead of an end-of-August deadline set by European leaders to reimpose sanctions on Iran if it does not agree to a series of conditions related to its nuclear program, including full cooperation with the IAEA.
Grossi told The Associated Press in an interview ahead of a briefing with reporters that despite Iran allowing IAEA inspectors back into the country, the agency is not yet satisfied with their cooperation.
"We still need to clarify a number of things," said Grossi, in an sit down interview with the AP. "We still need to address all the issues that are important in terms of the inspection that we have to carry out, in, in Iran."
"I hope that we will be able to get, to get that agreement soon. The fact that the inspectors are back is already, is an early indication, that there is progress in that direction," Grossi added.
Grossi, who plans to run for United Nations secretary-general, is being protected by an Austrian police Cobra unit following a threat he said is from “the direction” of Iran.
“It’s very regrettable that some people threaten the lives of international civil servants, the head of an international organization," Grossi told AP, adding that "we will continue our work.”
Top Iranian officials and Iranian media have called for Grossi to be arrested and put on trial if he returned to the country.