IAEA to Conduct Inspections in Iran Following Preliminary Agreement
Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirmed that inspections will be conducted in Iran as part of the country's preliminary peace agreement with the United States.
"The inspections will indeed take place," Grossi stated to reporters in Japan. "We will be working on the modalities - dates, procedures, places - very soon."
He emphasized that the agreement signed the previous week explicitly states that the dilution of Iran's highly enriched uranium will be carried out under IAEA supervision.
However, Iran's deputy foreign minister has indicated that access to its damaged nuclear facilities and nuclear material will only be addressed within the framework of a final agreement with the US.
US Secretary of State Meets Gulf Leaders Amid Ongoing Discussions
Grossi's remarks coincided with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's meetings with Gulf leaders. Rubio met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan before traveling to Kuwait and Bahrain to discuss the deal.
In Kuwait City, Rubio assured that the US would not agree to any deal with Iran that would compromise the security of its regional allies.
"We're going to be completely aligned with our partners in the Gulf," Rubio told reporters.
"If Iran wants to make a good and real deal, the United States is open to that. If they're not, then of course the president has options," he added, noting that negotiators are likely to meet again in Switzerland before the end of the month.
The initial US-Iran agreement also includes provisions allowing shipping to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while the US would lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports.
On Wednesday, Brent crude oil prices fell below $75 (£57) per barrel for the first time since the US-Israeli war on Iran began.
Meanwhile, the United Nations reported that some ships have already passed through the Strait of Hormuz under a scheme to evacuate thousands of sailors stranded due to the conflict.
Iran's Position on Nuclear Site Access
Iran maintains that no new commitments have been made regarding nuclear site access following statements by US Vice-President JD Vance about inspectors being invited back.
The first round of US-Iran talks concluded with encouraging progress, according to mediators.
Rubio is actively working to reassure US allies that any agreement with Iran will not undermine their security.
Recently, a dispute has arisen between the US and Iran concerning UN nuclear inspectors' access to Iranian sites.
On Monday, after talks in Switzerland with Iran's chief negotiator, US Vice-President JD Vance stated that Iran had "agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country." The following day, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said there had been "no detailed discussions" and that Iran had no plans to grant IAEA inspectors access to nuclear facilities damaged during a 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025.
US President Donald Trump dismissed Iran's contradictory statements, asserting that the country had "fully and completely agreed" to inspections.
"There's a war or words here. Some say 'yes', the others say 'no'," Grossi said on Wednesday. "I can understand political statements. They are part of the reality.
"But the fundamental thing... is that there has been a memorandum of understanding signed by both presidents," he added. "[It] says explicitly that the nuclear activities that are going to be carried out, with regards to nuclear material, facilities, will be supervised by the IAEA, in bold letters. This is going to happen."
Grossi noted that inspections would be conducted in collaboration and cooperation with the Iranian government, adding, "Whether this happens the day after tomorrow, or in one week, or in 10 days, it's important but not essential."
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded by stating on X that access to Iran's damaged nuclear facilities and nuclear materials would only be addressed within the framework of a final agreement with the US and after practical steps had been taken to lift all sanctions.
"Media noise cannot be used to impose facts on the ground," he added.
Details of the Memorandum of Understanding
Under the 14-point memorandum of understanding, the US and Iran have committed to negotiating a final deal within 60 days.
The agreement states that both parties have "agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material, pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon... with the minimum methodology to be down-blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA."
The IAEA reported that its inspectors were allowed to visit Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant earlier in the month but have not been granted access to the sensitive nuclear facilities bombed last June.
This lack of access prevents the agency from providing information on the current size, composition, or location of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile or confirming whether Iran has suspended enrichment activities. Much of the stockpile is believed to be stored in underground tunnels at the Isfahan site.
Enriched uranium can be used both for reactor fuel and nuclear weapons.
Before the US-Israeli war with Iran began on 28 February, the IAEA reported that Iran possessed 440kg (970 lbs) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, nearing weapons-grade levels. This quantity could theoretically produce up to 10 nuclear bombs if further enriched to 90%.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and denies any intention to develop or acquire nuclear weapons.
Background on the 2015 Nuclear Deal and Its Collapse
Under a 2015 agreement with the US and five other world powers, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities and allow continuous, robust monitoring by IAEA inspectors in exchange for relief from severe economic sanctions.
However, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018 during his first term, citing concerns that it was insufficient to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon pathway, and reinstated US sanctions.
In response, Iran progressively violated the deal's restrictions, particularly those concerning uranium enrichment.
