UN and Iran take ‘important step’ towards restarting nuclear inspections
Agreement comes after UK, France and Germany triggered mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions later this month
The UN nuclear watchdog and Iran have made a preliminary deal to resume co-operation over the country’s nuclear facilities, including those targeted by the US and Israel in June, after Tehran halted international inspections following the war.
Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the agency’s board of governors on Wednesday that the renewed co-operation would be conducted “in a comprehensive way”, calling it “an important step in the right direction”.
Britain, France and Germany began a process in late August that gave Iran 30 days to take various measures — including complying with the IAEA — or suffer renewed UN sanctions.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who signed the agreement with Grossi in Cairo on Tuesday, said the deal would not immediately allow the IAEA into Iran’s nuclear sites, and that the terms of access would be decided in future talks.
Grossi said the deal “provides for a clear understanding of the procedures for inspection, notifications and their implementation”. It included “all facilities and installations in Iran and it also contemplates the required reporting on all the attacked facilities”, he said.
He did not provide further details but said Iran had no intention of leaving the non-proliferation treaty, despite western fears that mounting pressure could push Iranian leaders towards quitting the pact.
Israel attacked Iran’s main nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan during the 12-day conflict in June, and killed dozens of senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. The US joined in with bunker-buster bombs, which President Donald Trump claimed “obliterated” the nuclear sites.
However, the extent of the destruction is unclear, as is the whereabouts of more than 400kg of highly enriched uranium that was believed to have been stored in the enrichment facilities, but may have been moved by Iran before the attacks.
In response to the conflict, Iran suspended co-operation with the IAEA, and its parliament passed a law stipulating that inspections could only resume with special permission from top security bodies.
Britain, France and Germany — long frustrated by Iran’s expanded nuclear activities and lack of co-operation with the IAEA — last month triggered a “snapback” mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal, giving Tehran a month to resume compliance with the IAEA, alongside resuming negotiations with Washington over its nuclear programme.
Araghchi warned that Iran would halt co-operation if the countries proceeded with UN sanctions.
Grossi acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed hope that the deal “may serve as a good sign . . . that nothing replaces dialogue”.