IAEA chief wants to meet Iran president

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog hopes to visit Iran soon for talks with newly-elected 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, IAEA head Rafael 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"