In this photo released by the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi attends a meeting with the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran via AP)2025-04-17T11:11:54Z DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Talks between Iran and the United States over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program are in a very crucial stage, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said Thursday while on a visit to the Islamic Republic.The comments by Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Tehran included an acknowledgment his agency likely would be key in verifying compliance by Iran should a deal be reached. Iran and the U.S. will meet again Saturday in Rome for a new round of talks after last weekends first meeting in Oman. Grossis visit also coincided with Saudi Arabias defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, visiting Tehran as the highest-ranking official from the kingdom to visit Iran since the two countries reached a Chinese-mediated dtente in 2023. Thats as Saudi Arabia tries to end its decadelong war against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen even as a new, intense campaign of U.S. airstrikes targets them. The stakes of the negotiations Saturday and the wider geopolitical tensions in the Mideast couldnt be higher, particularly as the Israel-Hamas war rages on in the Gaza Strip. U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Irans nuclear program if a deal isnt reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Grossi visits during crucial Iran-US talksGrossi arrived in Iran on Wednesday night and met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who now is in Moscow for separate talks likely over the negotiations. On Thursday, Grossi met with Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, then later toured a hall featuring some of Irans civilian nuclear projects. We know that we are in a very crucial, I would say, stage of this important negotiation, so I want to concentrate on the positive, Grossi told Iranian media. There is a possibility of a good outcome. Nothing is guaranteed. We need to make sure that we put all of the elements in place ... in order to get to this agreement. He added: We know we dont have much time. So this is why Im here. This is why Im in contact with the United States as well.Asked about Trumps threats to attack Iran, Grossi urged people to concentrate on our objective.Once we get to our objective, all of these things will evaporate because there will be no reason for concern, he said.For his part, Eslami said Iran expected the IAEA to maintain impartiality and act professionally, a report from the state-run IRNA news agency said. Since the nuclear deals collapse in 2018 with Trumps unilateral withdrawal of the U.S. from the accord, Iran has abandoned all limits on its program, and enriches uranium to up to 60% purity near weapons-grade levels of 90%.Surveillance cameras installed by the IAEA have been disrupted, while Iran has barred some of the Vienna-based agencys most experienced inspectors. Iranian officials also have increasingly threatened that they could pursue atomic weapons, something the West and the IAEA have been worried about for years since Tehran abandoned an organized weapons program in 2003.Despite tensions between Iran and the agency, its access has not been entirely revoked. Saudi prince becomes kingdoms highest-level visitor to Tehran in decadesPrince Khalid bin Salman, the son of King Salman and the brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, arrived in Tehran on Thursday. Irans joint chief of staff, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, greeted the prince on his arrival and an honor guard played for the two men. Prince Khalid, a fighter pilot, has become the first Saudi defense minister to visit Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Hes also the highest-ranking Saudi royal to visit in decades. The last was King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who did so as crown prince in 1997 for an Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting held in Tehran. The state-run Saudi Press Agency, announcing the princes arrival, said his trip would include a number of meetings to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and issues of common interest, without elaborating. The visit is significant, particularly given the decades of enmity between the two countries. Saudi Arabia has been for years trying to get a peace deal agreed to with the Houthis. A de facto ceasefire broadly has halted hostilities in the war, though the Houthis increasingly have threatened both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates amid the U.S. airstrikes. ___Vahdat reported from Tehran, Iran. Associated Press writer Stephanie Liechtenstein in Vienna contributed to this report. JON GAMBRELL Gambrell is the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press. He has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world since joining the AP in 2006. twitter instagram mailto