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The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog warned on Wednesday that Iran has not yet provided sufficient cooperation to international inspectors, despite European leaders appearing ready to reimpose sanctions on Tehran. Last-minute diplomacy failed to resolve concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.
Despite Tehran’s decision to allow inspectors back for the first time since June, when an 12-day conflict with Israel occurred, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that regaining full access to Iran’s nuclear facilities is far from complete.
“It is important that the inspectors are back,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told The Associated Press in an interview. “At the same time, we still need to clarify a number of things and address all the issues that are important for our inspections.”
“We still need to address all the issues that are important,” he emphasized, noting that cooperation remains a work in progress.
European leaders from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom (the E3) have been in direct talks with Tehran but are prepared to invoke the “snapback mechanism” of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. This step would restore U.N. sanctions on Iran over concerns about ongoing noncompliance. The U.S. and the E3 have set an Aug. 31 deadline for Iran to resume negotiations, allow full inspector access, and account for more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.
Inspectors currently have only returned to the Bushehr nuclear power plant, not to other sensitive sites hit by U.S. bunker-buster bombs in June. Grossi said he has no immediate plans to visit Tehran but remains in talks with Iranian officials about logistics for wider access.
For now, inspectors have only returned to the Bushehr nuclear power plant and not to other sensitive sites damaged by U.S. airstrikes in June. Grossi described the renewed access as a breakthrough, though partial.
“This is important given that the attacks began after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites,” he said. “There were voices in Iran advocating the end of any cooperation with the agency, and voices worldwide arguing we might never go back.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed inspectors were present at Bushehr this week to observe a fuel replacement but cautioned that it didn’t represent a breakthrough for granting IAEA entry to other facilities.
Grossi described the renewed access as a breakthrough, though partial. “This is important given that the attacks began after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites,” he said. “There were voices in Iran advocating the end of any cooperation with the agency, and voices worldwide arguing we might never go back.”
Talks between Iranian officials and the Europeans ended without a final outcome this week in Switzerland. Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful but remains the only non-nuclear-armed nation enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels.
Grossi spoke to AP after meetings with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who discussed global nuclear safety and IAEA efforts to conduct monitoring and verification activities, including in Iran.
Israel’s strikes on Iran in June followed an IAEA censure over Tehran’s lack of cooperation. Iranian leaders accused the agency of aiding Israel and the United States in planning the raids. Top officials later called for Grossi to be arrested if he returned to the country.
Grossi’s high profile has made him a target. He confirmed he is under special protection by Austria’s elite Cobra police unit after receiving threats “from the direction” of Iran. An Argentine diplomat, Grossi has raised the IAEA’s global visibility with visits to Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion and his work pressing Iran for access.
“It’s very regrettable that some people threaten the lives of international civil servants, the head of an international organization,” Grossi told AP. “But we will continue our work.”
Deputy State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio spoke with his European counterparts on Wednesday, reiterating their commitment to ensuring Iran never develops or obtains a nuclear weapon.
As the Aug. 31 deadline approaches, Grossi says the IAEA will continue pressing for access to all of Iran’s facilities, not just Bushehr.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
