The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has urged Iran to take immediate, gradual steps to restore international inspectors’ access to its key nuclear facilities, warning that the continued lack of verification is raising serious concerns about nuclear proliferation.
In a report seen by AFP on Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stressed that access to Iran’s nuclear sites was critical to verifying the country’s nuclear activities and ensuring compliance with international safeguards.
The agency has been unable to inspect several major nuclear facilities in Iran since Israel, backed by the United States, launched a 12-day military campaign in June 2025 that included strikes on Iranian nuclear installations. Further attacks on nuclear facilities during the latest conflict, which began on February 28, have added to the challenges facing international nuclear monitoring efforts.
Ahead of next week’s meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, the agency reiterated its demand for the resumption of inspections, stressing that verification activities must begin without further delay.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi encouraged Tehran to consider technical and gradual arrangements that would allow international inspectors to return to the country’s nuclear facilities.
“The director general encourages Iran to consider technical and gradual measures by which conditions are achieved that allow for the return of agency inspectors to Iran,” the report stated.
The agency added that incremental measures could help restore normal nuclear safeguards while creating an atmosphere of confidence that might support a broader diplomatic agreement.
The report also outlined recent exchanges between the IAEA and Iranian authorities concerning the possibility of restoring inspection activities.
Although IAEA inspectors were permitted to visit Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant in September, access to other important nuclear facilities has remained restricted.
The watchdog acknowledged that military strikes against Iran’s nuclear installations had created an unprecedented situation, complicating its ability to carry out its monitoring responsibilities.
However, the agency expressed particular concern about the consequences of continued restrictions on cooperation and verification.
The agency further warned that it could no longer provide assurance that all declared nuclear material in Iran remained within peaceful nuclear activities. Without access to the relevant facilities and updated information about nuclear stockpiles, inspectors cannot establish whether any nuclear material has been diverted from its declared purposes.
The latest report has also raised concerns about Iran’s Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant, which the IAEA has been unable to inspect. The agency says it lacks sufficient information about the facility’s precise location, operational status and whether nuclear material is present there.
Iran, meanwhile, has argued that discussions about restoring inspections cannot proceed while the country faces threats of further military attacks, particularly against its nuclear infrastructure. This disagreement has added another obstacle to efforts to restore international monitoring.
The dispute has become increasingly significant following the IAEA Board of Governors’ decision in September to refer Iran’s nuclear non-compliance to the United Nations Security Council. It marked the first such referral in 20 years, intensifying diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Western governments.
The latest appeal from the nuclear watchdog reflects growing international concern over the lack of transparency surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme. While the agency continues to seek a technical solution that would allow inspections to resume, the future of nuclear monitoring will depend heavily on whether Tehran and the international community can rebuild confidence through cooperation and diplomatic engagement.
#Iran #IAEA #NuclearWatchdog #NuclearProgramme #UnitedNations #NuclearSecurity #MiddleEast #InternationalNews #GlobalPolitics #WorldNews
***This article is intended for news and informational purposes, presenting developments and statements from relevant international sources. Readers are encouraged to engage in respectful, fact-based discussions in accordance with Facebook Community Standards.***
+ There are no comments
Add yours