VIENNA (AP) 鈥� The head of the United Nations鈥� atomic watchdog said Wednesday that 鈥渢he jury is still out鈥� on negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over Tehran鈥檚 rapidly advancing nuclear program, but described the continuing negotiations a good sign.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, made the comment to journalists attending a weeklong seminar at the agency in Vienna.
Grossi acknowledged one of his deputies was in Tehran on Wednesday. Iranian officials identified the official as Massimo Aparo, the head of the IAEA鈥檚 safeguards arm.
鈥淔or the moment, the jury is still out,鈥� Grossi said. 鈥淭he fact that they continue to meet 鈥� that is an indication of a willingness to come to an agreement.鈥�
The talks seek to limit Iran鈥檚 nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic, closing in on a .
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to , if a deal isn鈥檛 reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
Before Grossi鈥檚 comments to journalists in Vienna, the head of Iran鈥檚 paramilitary Revolutionary Guard issued a new warning to the U.S. as the negotiations go on.
鈥淥ur fingers on the trigger, we are in ambush and we are waiting,鈥� Gen. Hossein Salami warned. 鈥淚f they make a mistake, they will immediately receive responses that will make them completely forget their past.鈥�
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Nasser Karimi and Amir Vahdat contributed to this report from Tehran, Iran.
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Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape:
Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press
