Key facts
- An interim U.S.-Iran agreement allows UN nuclear inspectors access to Iran.
- IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stated that inspections are necessary to comply with the agreement.
- Iran had previously indicated key nuclear sites would remain off-limits until a final deal.
- Inspectors will verify the integrity of IAEA seals and check for missing materials.
- The IAEA estimates Iran possessed 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60% before recent conflicts.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated on Friday that an interim agreement between the U.S. and Iran will permit nuclear inspectors access to the country. This comes after Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, had indicated that key sites would remain off-limits until a final deal was reached and sanctions were lifted.
Grossi told a press conference in Japan that compliance with the agreement necessitates IAEA access and inspections, expressing hope that inspectors would be present soon. He noted that initial technical discussions have already occurred between inspectors and Iranian officials.
The primary objective of any visit would be to verify that IAEA seals on previously inspected materials remain intact and to ascertain if any material is missing. Grossi emphasized the need for a robust verification system, stating that intentions alone are insufficient.
Iran has not disclosed the quantity of its enriched uranium that survived recent attacks or its current location. The IAEA estimates that prior to the conflict, Iran possessed 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60%, which, if further enriched, could be sufficient for ten nuclear weapons.