IAEA Confirms Nuclear Inspections in Iran Will Proceed Under Peace Deal with US

The head of the world’s nuclear watchdog has confirmed that inspections in Iran will proceed under an initial peace agreement between the country and the United States. “Inspections will indeed continue,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told reporters in Japan. “We will soon work out the modalities, including the date, procedures, and location.” Grossi added that the agreement signed last week explicitly states that the dilution of Iran’s highly enriched uranium will be carried out under IAEA supervision. Tensions had arisen following differing statements from the US and Iran regarding the presence of UN inspectors. US Vice President JD Vance previously stated that Iran had agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back. However, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry denied there had been in-depth discussions on the matter for facilities bombed by the US during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025. Responding to the dispute, Grossi described it as a normal political dynamic. “There is a war of words here. Some say ‘yes’, others say ‘no’,” the IAEA chief said on Wednesday. “I can understand the political statements. It’s part of reality.” He stressed that the fundamental point is the memorandum of understanding signed by both presidents, which explicitly states that nuclear activities involving materials and facilities will be supervised by the IAEA. “It will happen,” he said. Grossi stated that inspections would be carried out in cooperation with the Iranian government. Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, responded on social media platform X, asserting that access to damaged nuclear facilities and materials would only be discussed within the framework of a final agreement with the US and after concrete steps are taken to lift all sanctions. “Media noise cannot be used to impose facts on the ground,” Gharibabadi wrote.