IAEA Chief Signals Inspectors Will Visit Iran's Nuclear Sites Under U.S.-Iran Deal

Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, signaled on Wednesday that IAEA inspectors will visit Iran's nuclear enrichment sites as part of an interim agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ending their conflict. Speaking at a news conference at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Grossi emphasized that a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both presidents explicitly mandates IAEA supervision of Iran's nuclear material facilities.

The announcement comes amid contradictory statements from Iran and the U.S. On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran has no current plans to allow IAEA inspections of damaged nuclear sites. However, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on June 23 that Iran has agreed to IAEA inspections and that the U.S. is "100 percent confident" in this arrangement. Trump suggested that if Iran's denial were accurate, he would "immediately cancel" related talks, though he did not provide a specific timeline for inspections, stating only that they would occur at an "appropriate time."

Grossi acknowledged the political disagreements but stressed the fundamental importance of the agreement. "I can understand political statements, they are part of the reality, but the fundamental thing I would like to remind you is that there has been a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by both presidents," he said. He clarified that inspections must occur for the agreement to function, stating: "Obviously, to do that, we have to inspect. Whether this happens the day after tomorrow or in one week or in ten days, it's important, but not essential. This is going to happen."

The inspections are critical to the interim deal's centerpiece: downblending Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile from current levels. Since Israel's 12-day military campaign against Iran in 2025, Tehran has blocked IAEA access to enrichment sites where international observers assess Iran possesses sufficient highly enriched uranium to potentially produce up to 10 nuclear weapons. Iran maintains its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful, though it remains the only country worldwide with uranium enriched to 60% purity without a weapons program. Grossi's firm signal from the UN agency is viewed as key to determining the credibility and viability of the U.S.-Iran agreement.