IAEA Chief Secures Deal For Full Iran Nuclear Facilities Inspections/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The UN’s atomic watchdog announced an agreement granting inspectors access to all of Iran’s nuclear facilities and requiring Tehran to account for material at sites struck by Israel earlier this year. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi called the deal a “profoundly significant” step toward restoring cooperation. But Tehran warned it could terminate the agreement if threatened with renewed sanctions.
UN-Iran Nuclear Deal — Quick Looks
- Agreement between Iran and IAEA grants inspectors access to all nuclear sites
- Iran must report on material at facilities hit by Israeli strikes in June
- Deal announced after talks between IAEA’s Grossi, Iran FM Araghchi, and Egypt FM Abdelatty
- Inspectors have been largely barred since Iran suspended cooperation July 2
- Latest IAEA report shows Iran stockpiled 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60%
- That amount could fuel 10 nuclear weapons if enriched to 90%
- Only site inspected since June war: Bushehr plant with Russian assistance
- Iran warns deal ends if “any hostile act” occurs, including snapback sanctions
- France, Germany, UK already triggered process to reimpose sanctions Aug. 28
- Snapback designed to be veto-proof, could take effect within 30 days
Deep Look: UN Nuclear Watchdog Reaches Agreement With Iran For Full Access To Nuclear Sites
VIENNA — In a breakthrough for stalled nuclear diplomacy, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced Tuesday that it has reached a new agreement with Iran granting inspectors access to all nuclear facilities. The accord also requires Iran to provide a full accounting of nuclear material present at sites damaged in Israeli strikes earlier this year.
The deal was finalized in Vienna after IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
Grossi: Deal Is “Profoundly Significant”
Speaking to the IAEA’s 35-nation board of governors on Wednesday, Grossi emphasized the importance of the document, saying it established clear procedures for inspection notifications and their implementation.
“This agreement includes all facilities and installations in Iran and contemplates reporting on all attacked facilities, including nuclear material present at those sites,” Grossi said.
Though technical in nature, Grossi said the deal carried profound political significance, opening the way for renewed cooperation between Tehran and the agency after months of near-total shutdown.
Iran Suspended Cooperation After War With Israel
On July 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law suspending all cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. The move followed a 12-day war in June during which Israel, with U.S. support, struck multiple Iranian nuclear sites.
Since then, IAEA inspectors have been unable to verify Iran’s rapidly expanding stockpile of enriched uranium. A confidential report in June found Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% — material dangerously close to weapons-grade.
According to IAEA benchmarks, if enriched to 90%, that uranium could fuel 10 nuclear weapons, though additional technical steps like creating a detonation device would still be required.
Limited Inspections Since June
Since the war, the only site inspected has been the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, run with Russian assistance. Inspectors observed a fuel replacement procedure there in late August, but access to enrichment facilities and stockpile sites has been denied.
This new agreement, if implemented, could restore comprehensive access.
Iran Issues Warning
Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi welcomed the deal, saying it addressed his country’s security concerns and outlined technical requirements for cooperation with the IAEA.
But he warned the agreement would collapse if Iran faced renewed sanctions or hostile actions:
“In the event of any hostile act against Iran, including the reimposition of UN sanctions, Tehran will regard this agreement as terminated.”
Snapback Sanctions Loom
That warning comes as France, Germany, and the UK have already begun the process of reimposing UN sanctions, accusing Iran of breaching its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal.
On August 28, the European nations triggered the so-called snapback mechanism — a process deliberately designed to be veto-proof at the UN Security Council. Sanctions could formally resume within 30 days unless new negotiations are launched.
European diplomats have indicated they may extend the deadline if Iran:
- Resumes direct negotiations with the U.S.
- Restores IAEA access to nuclear facilities
- Provides a full accounting of its highly enriched uranium stockpile
The new IAEA agreement could therefore help Tehran argue against the immediate reimposition of sanctions — but much will depend on how quickly and fully inspectors are granted access.
Global Stakes
Independent economists and non-proliferation experts say the deal represents a fragile but necessary step to prevent Iran from moving closer to a nuclear weapons capability.
Analysts warn that if Iran continues unchecked enrichment, regional rivals like Saudi Arabia or Turkey could pursue nuclear options of their own, further destabilizing the Middle East.
Grossi urged both sides to move quickly:
“These practical steps need to be implemented now,” he said, warning that delays could again jeopardize trust between Iran and the international community.
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