- UN Nuclear Watchdog Signals Return of Monitoring Activities
TOKYO: The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has indicated that inspectors will soon regain access to Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities, marking a crucial step in implementing the interim agreement reached between the United States and Iran aimed at ending regional hostilities.
Speaking on Wednesday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi stressed that inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities are an integral part of the accord and will take place despite ongoing political disagreements over the process.
IAEA’s Role Central to Nuclear Verification
Grossi’s remarks represent the clearest indication yet that the IAEA will resume its verification and monitoring responsibilities in Iran. The agency is considered the primary international authority responsible for assessing the status of Iran’s nuclear activities and stockpiles.
Since the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in 2025, Tehran has restricted IAEA access to several enrichment facilities where the country is believed to possess enough highly enriched uranium that could, if further processed, potentially be used to produce multiple nuclear weapons.
Iran, however, continues to insist that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful and civilian purposes. Nonetheless, it remains the only non-nuclear-weapon state enriching uranium to 60 percent purity—a level significantly above that required for civilian energy production.
Conflicting Statements from Washington and Tehran
The future of inspections became the subject of uncertainty after US and Iranian officials issued differing statements on Tuesday regarding whether international inspectors would be granted access to the sites.
Addressing journalists during a visit to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, Grossi sought to clarify the situation, emphasizing that the agreement signed by both governments contains explicit provisions regarding international oversight.
“I can understand political statements; they are part of reality,” Grossi said. “But the fundamental point is that there is a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both presidents.”
Inspections ‘Will Happen,’ Grossi Says
According to Grossi, the memorandum clearly stipulates that all nuclear activities involving nuclear materials and facilities will remain under IAEA supervision.
“The agreement explicitly states that the nuclear activities concerning nuclear material and facilities will be supervised by the IAEA,” he noted.
Grossi further stressed that inspections are inevitable, regardless of the exact timeline.
“To carry out that responsibility, we have to inspect. Whether it happens in two days, a week, or ten days is not essential. What is important is that it is going to happen,” he said.
Verification Essential for Uranium Reduction Plan
The planned inspections are regarded as a cornerstone of the interim US-Iran agreement. The deal requires Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium to be diluted, or “downblended,” to lower enrichment levels, reducing proliferation concerns and helping build confidence between the parties.
International observers view the restoration of IAEA access as a critical measure for ensuring transparency and verifying compliance as diplomatic efforts continue toward a broader and more permanent resolution of tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme.
BY: The Times Union
