The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said inspectors will visit Iranian sites, but Tehran insists such visits can only occur after a final nuclear deal is reached.
IAEA chief confirms inspection plans
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that agency inspectors will visit Iranian nuclear sites. However, Iranian officials have conditioned these visits on the conclusion of a comprehensive final agreement.
The standoff echoes tensions from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which then-U.S. President Donald Trump called “one of the dumbest deals I’ve ever seen.” Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA in 2018, leading Iran to ramp up nuclear activities.
Iran's position on inspections
Tehran maintains that any IAEA inspections beyond existing safeguards must be part of a broader negotiated settlement. “Iran has made it clear that extraordinary access is tied to a final deal,” a senior Iranian official said. “Without that, there can be no additional visits.”
The IAEA has faced challenges monitoring Iran’s program since the U.S. withdrawal. Iran now enriches uranium to up to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade, and has restricted some IAEA monitoring equipment.
Broader geopolitical context
The dispute comes amid heightened regional tensions and stalled talks in Vienna. The U.S. under President Trump has imposed crippling sanctions on Iran, while Iran demands their full removal as a precondition for returning to compliance.
Grossi’s comments signal a potential diplomatic opening, but the gap remains wide. “We need to ensure the IAEA can verify Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful,” Grossi said. “That requires access, but also a political framework.”
