IAEA Chief: "Access to Iran's Nuclear Facilities Guaranteed Under U.S.-Iran Agreement"

"I hope to be able to enter Iran soon"


"A very robust verification system must be established"

Reuters Yonhap News

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), announced that, under an agreement between the United States and Iran, the IAEA inspection team will be guaranteed access to Iranian nuclear facilities. Amid ongoing disagreements between the United States and Iran over the issue of IAEA inspections, he expressed his determination to ensure that the inspections would proceed as planned.

According to AFP, on June 26, while visiting Japan, Director General Grossi stated at a press conference, "An agreement has been reached between the United States and Iran, and in order to implement this agreement, the IAEA must enter Iran to conduct nuclear inspections." He added, "Access to Iran's nuclear facilities has been guaranteed, and I hope to be able to enter Iran soon."

At a press conference the previous day, Director General Grossi also said, "The nuclear inspections in Iran will indeed take place," emphasizing, "Whether the inspections happen tomorrow or in a week is not essential. The specific timing, procedures, and locations will be coordinated with Iran." The IAEA has thus made it very clear that it is determined to conduct on-site nuclear inspections in Iran.

From the IAEA's perspective, this is interpreted as a commitment to preventing the development of nuclear weapons by Iran at all costs. Director General Grossi stressed, "After the conflict in the Middle East, a very robust verification system is necessary to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons," and emphasized, "The purpose of the agreement reached between the United States and Iran is to guarantee that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons."

Nevertheless, the issue of IAEA nuclear inspections continues to be a point of contention between the United States and Iran. After signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a ceasefire agreement on June 17, the United States announced that Iran had agreed to IAEA nuclear inspections. However, Iran maintains that no such agreement was discussed and insists that it cannot allow the IAEA inspection team access to its nuclear facilities until a final agreement is reached.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated, "Reports that Iran has accepted IAEA inspections are not true," dismissing the possibility, and clarified that whether inspections would resume will be determined by the course and outcome of future negotiations. Since July of last year, after a confrontation with Israel and a U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran has suspended all cooperation with the IAEA.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.