IAEA Conducts Inspections Amidst Nuclear Tensions
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have conducted visits to several nuclear sites in Iran, the country's foreign ministry confirmed on Monday. This development comes just one week after the UN nuclear watchdog urged Tehran to dramatically improve its cooperation levels.
Access to Key Facilities
Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that IAEA inspectors visited multiple nuclear facilities last week, including the Tehran Research Reactor. "As long as we are a member of the NPT, we'll abide by our commitments," Mr Baghaei declared, referring to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The announcement follows concerns raised by IAEA chief Rafael Grossi last week, who emphasised that Iran must "seriously improve" cooperation with agency inspectors to prevent escalating tensions with Western nations. Mr Grossi had specifically challenged Iran's position, stating the country couldn't claim to remain within the non-proliferation treaty while failing to comply with its obligations.
Background of Restrictions and Conflict
The inspection access comes against a complex backdrop of restrictions and international conflict. Following Israeli and US attacks in June, Iran passed legislation blocking IAEA inspectors from entering its nuclear facilities. Access had been progressively limited since 2018 when former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.
Iranian officials have previously blamed the IAEA for providing justification for Israel's bombing campaign that sparked a 12-day war in June. Notably, the bombing began just one day after the IAEA board voted to declare Iran in violation of its NPT obligations.
In a significant development from May 2025, the IAEA acknowledged it no longer maintained continuous understanding of Iran's nuclear programme status. However, a breakthrough occurred in early September when the IAEA and Iran reached a preliminary agreement permitting inspectors to resume onsite inspections, covering Iran's stockpiles of highly enriched uranium and all nuclear sites, including those reportedly damaged in American attacks.
