IAEA chief: US-Iran deal grants agency access to nuclear sites
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Friday that the recent US-Iran agreement specifically designates the UN nuclear watchdog to supervise Tehran's nuclear commitments, adding that technical teams have already begun discussions to establish inspection protocols and verify the country's highly enriched uranium stockpiles.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Friday confirmed that the recent agreement between Washington and Tehran grants the UN nuclear watchdog access to Iranian nuclear sites, stating that the deal's nuclear component will be supervised by the agency as technical teams begin establishing verification protocols.
Supervision Agreement
Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Grossi said the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran "specifically indicates" that its nuclear component "will be supervised by the IAEA." He emphasized that physical verification is mandatory, stating: "In order to supervise, we need to inspect. There is no other way."
Inspection Protocols
The agency has already launched technical consultations with Iranian authorities to determine inspection frequencies, specific sites, and operational procedures. Grossi noted that Iran maintains an "important inventory" of more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, alongside additional stockpiles enriched to 20% and 5%. "The first thing that needs to happen is that we have access to the material," he said, explaining that inspectors must examine seals and confirm that no nuclear material has been diverted. He expressed hope that IAEA teams could be deployed to Iran "soon."
Political Context
The IAEA chief addressed divergent public statements from Washington and Tehran regarding the agreement's scope, characterizing them as "political positioning." "There is a bit of a war of statements here," Grossi said, noting that the comprehensive accord also covers sanctions relief, territorial integrity guarantees, restrictions on the use of force, economic incentives, and freedom of navigation. He clarified that the 60-day timeframe established by both parties represents an initial phase rather than the full implementation period.
Grossi stressed that the agency's mandate centers strictly on factual verification rather than assessing diplomatic intentions. "Intentions are not enough," he said. "We must verify everywhere, we must verify all the time."
Comments you share on our site are a valuable resource for other users. Please be respectful of different opinions and other users. Avoid using rude, aggressive, derogatory, or discriminatory language.