- The UN nuclear watchdog wants a “very strong” verification system for Iran.
- The IAEA has not had substantial talks with Iran, said head Rafael Grossi.
- Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA in July 2025.
A “very strong” verification system is needed in Iran following the Middle East conflict to ensure that the country does not develop nuclear weapons, the UN atomic watchdog chief said on Friday.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi’s remarks come as the US and Iran negotiate a broader agreement to end the war, with Tehran’s nuclear programme remaining one of the key sticking points.
“I think the objective of this (recent US-Iran) agreement is to ensure that there is no development of nuclear weapons in Iran. The government of Iran has declared quite clearly that this is not their intention,” Grossi told reporters in Japan.
“But of course, intentions are not enough. We have to have a very strong verification system in place... as soon as is practicable,” the IAEA chief said.
Grossi also said that the watchdog had “barely initiated” talks with Iran following its recent preliminary agreement with the US about what to do with Tehran’s uranium stockpile.
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“Initial conversations have taken place... We expect this work to pick up soon,” Grossi said.
Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire an atomic bomb, while remaining adamant about its right to operate a full-scale civilian nuclear programme.
Under a law passed by the Iranian parliament in the wake of last year’s 12-day war with Israel, Tehran suspended cooperation with the IAEA last July.
On Wednesday, Reuters reported that the IAEA would carry out inspections in Iran, soon following an interim peace accord between the US and Iran, Grossi said, although Tehran later indicated that access to key sites remained contingent on a final agreement and sanctions lifting.
The two sides signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding last week setting out broad agreements in principle to end the war.
The interim accord paved the way for 60 days of talks aimed at hammering out thornier details, including issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme.
“The inspections will indeed take place,” Grossi told a press conference in Japan, an audio recording of which the IAEA posted online.
“We will be working on the modalities – dates, procedures, places – very soon,” he said of discussions with Tehran.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said on Wednesday that there were currently no plans to grant access to attacked nuclear facilities or nuclear material.
He said such issues would only be addressed within the framework of a final agreement with Washington and after “practical steps” to lift US sanctions on Iran.
