BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has expressed confidence that international inspectors will soon regain access to Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities, despite conflicting statements from Washington and Tehran over the terms of their recently signed interim agreement aimed at easing regional tensions and advancing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
Speaking on Wednesday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said inspections of Iran’s enrichment sites are expected to take place as part of the memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran following weeks of intensive diplomacy. Grossi acknowledged the ongoing public disagreements surrounding the deal but insisted that the agreement clearly outlines the IAEA’s role in supervising Iran’s nuclear activities.
His comments come just one week after the United States and Iran reached an interim agreement designed to halt further escalation after months of heightened conflict in the Middle East. While the accord established a 60-day negotiation period to finalize a broader framework, both governments have continued to offer differing interpretations of several key provisions, including the timing and scope of international inspections.
Grossi described the conflicting public statements as part of a broader political dispute but emphasized that the text of the agreement leaves little ambiguity regarding the agency’s responsibilities.
Addressing reporters during a visit to Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Grossi said the memorandum explicitly states that nuclear activities involving Iran’s nuclear material and facilities will be supervised by the IAEA. He added that inspections are a necessary part of that process and expressed confidence they would take place regardless of whether they begin in a matter of days or weeks.
According to the interim agreement, international inspections are considered essential to verifying Iran’s commitment to reducing the enrichment level of its uranium stockpile. The deal envisions the downblending of highly enriched uranium, a process that lowers uranium enrichment to levels suitable for civilian purposes rather than potential weapons use.
Iranian officials, however, have rejected the suggestion that inspections will begin before a final agreement is reached.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded by stating that decisions regarding inspections would only be made within the framework of a comprehensive agreement and after the United States fulfills its obligations, including lifting sanctions and implementing other agreed measures. Writing on social media, he criticized what he described as attempts to influence negotiations through media pressure, insisting that practical actions must come before further commitments from Tehran.
The dispute reflects the broader uncertainty surrounding the interim agreement, with both sides continuing to negotiate publicly while technical teams work behind closed doors to resolve outstanding issues. Diplomats hope the 60-day negotiation period will produce a more comprehensive settlement capable of stabilizing relations after months of military confrontation.
The IAEA has faced significant restrictions on its activities in Iran since the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in 2025. During that period, Tehran barred inspectors from visiting several key uranium enrichment facilities where experts believe Iran maintains enough highly enriched uranium that, if further refined, could potentially be used to produce multiple nuclear weapons.
Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful civilian purposes. Nevertheless, international concern has persisted because Iran remains the only country without an active nuclear weapons program known to enrich uranium to 60 percent purity, a level far beyond what is typically required for civilian energy production.
Although IAEA inspectors have continued to visit certain Iranian nuclear sites, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, they have been unable to verify the condition of enrichment facilities or independently assess Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. The agency has also been unable to inspect centrifuge cascades used in uranium enrichment, limiting its ability to provide a complete assessment of Iran’s nuclear activities.
Nonproliferation experts have warned that the lack of access increases uncertainty over the location and status of Iran’s nuclear materials, with concerns that portions of the stockpile could potentially be moved to undeclared locations beyond international monitoring.
Under the interim agreement announced last week, Iran agreed in principle to dilute portions of its enriched uranium stockpile, while the United States committed to easing sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports. The arrangement is intended to create momentum for broader negotiations covering Iran’s nuclear program, regional security, and economic restrictions.
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, the ceasefire that accompanied the agreement has already faced several challenges. Regional tensions resurfaced after renewed fighting involving Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. Although clashes intensified briefly, they stopped short of triggering a wider military confrontation.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the United States has not requested an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. He stated that Israeli forces would remain deployed as long as Hezbollah continues to pose a security threat to Israeli troops and communities near the border. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has maintained that it will not halt attacks unless Israel agrees to withdraw its forces.
Diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting agreement are expected to continue next week when technical-level negotiations resume at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland. Pakistan, which has played a significant mediating role during recent negotiations, confirmed that representatives from both countries are expected to participate in the talks.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio continued a diplomatic tour of the Persian Gulf aimed at reinforcing regional support for the negotiations. Rubio began the trip in the United Arab Emirates, where he held closed-door discussions with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He later traveled to Kuwait, where the United States marked the limited reopening of its embassy after operations had been significantly reduced during the height of last year’s Iran conflict.
Rubio participated in a ceremonial flag-raising at the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait City before continuing his regional tour with a planned visit to Bahrain, as the United States seeks to maintain momentum in negotiations while working with regional partners to preserve the fragile ceasefire and reduce the risk of renewed conflict.
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