AP:

Iran has agreed to allow in an International Atomic Energy Agency technical team in coming days to discuss restoring camera surveillance at nuclear sites, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said Wednesday, calling it an encouraging signal of Iran's attitude toward nuclear talks with the United States.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, speaking to reporters in Washington after meeting with Iranian officials in Tehran last week, joined the American and Iranian sides in projecting optimism after a second round of negotiations Saturday over the Islamic Republic's rapidly advancing nuclear program.

Technical-level talks were expected this week.

"The goal is for Iran not to have nuclear weapons. That is the goal as defined by the United States. And for Iran is to prove that they are not doing that," Grossi said.

The U.S. is looking to ensure Iran doesn't develop nuclear weapons, while Iran wants sanctions eased that have damaged its economy.

After Trump pulled the U.S. out of an Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in his first term, it responded by curtailing access and monitoring at nuclear sites by Grossi's IAEA. Since then, Iran has pressed ahead on enriching and stockpiling uranium that is closer to weapons-grade levels, the agency says.

Iranian Supreme Ali Khamenei long has refrained from ordering the final steps needed to make nuclear bombs. Iranian leaders say its nuclear sites are for civilian purposes only.

Iran resumed talks with the months-old second Trump administration, in the face of threatened Israeli or U.S. strikes aimed at disabling Iran's nuclear program by force.

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