IAEA Calls on Iran to Resolve Outstanding Nuclear Safeguards Issues

New York - The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, called on Iran on Tuesday to cooperate with the Agency to clarify outstanding issues related to nuclear safeguards and to grant access to relevant facilities and materials. He emphasized that diplomacy backed by nuclear verification is the only way to prevent nuclear proliferation globally in the long term.

This statement came during a briefing Grossi delivered at a session convened by the UN Security Council on non-proliferation. He noted that IAEA inspectors have been ready to return to Iran for months, but the Agency has not received the necessary information and access to verify nuclear materials previously declared by Tehran.

Grossi expressed concern over the Agency’s inability to verify previously declared nuclear materials in Iran, including 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium. He stressed the need to enable inspectors to access the relevant facilities to verify the status of these materials, in accordance with Iran’s obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. He stated that the Agency has not yet been able to verify that no nuclear materials subject to safeguards under the agreement with Iran have been diverted, describing this situation as correctable and requiring immediate action.

Grossi explained that military attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025 disrupted ongoing verification activities, forcing the Agency to withdraw all its inspectors from the country by the end of that month for safety reasons. He pointed out that preparatory technical work has made progress within the framework of various mediation efforts, laying the groundwork for a diplomatic agreement that would allow inspectors to return. He affirmed that any path forward regarding Iran’s nuclear program must include the indispensable role of the Agency in verification processes.

He stressed that any unverified solution would not be sustainable, commending the efforts of Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, and Egypt to re-engage Iran in dialogue and reach acceptable arrangements. In this context, Grossi referred to the Cairo Agreement signed with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on September 9, 2025, under the patronage of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He clarified that it represents a practical approach to addressing Iran’s security concerns and facilitating the resumption of verification activities after the military attacks.

He said that reviewing the agreement could help address practical issues related to facilities damaged by the strikes, including fuel enrichment facilities at Fordow and Natanz, several facilities at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, and the Khondab heavy water research reactor.

Grossi affirmed that Iran’s legal obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement cannot be unilaterally suspended, describing this as a fundamental principle of international law. He noted that Iran has not provided the required information or granted the necessary access to verify previously declared nuclear materials at safeguarded facilities, whether those affected by military attacks or those that were not.

He made an exception for the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, where inspectors are currently conducting verification activities, citing Iranian authorities’ cooperation with the Agency in arranging for the provision of necessary safeguards equipment to verify spent fuel before its transfer to a new dry storage facility early next year.

Regarding the Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant, Grossi stressed the need for the Agency to obtain information and access to verify the status of the facility and determine whether it contains nuclear materials.

He noted that the Agency continues to monitor activities at Iran’s declared nuclear facilities and at sites linked to its former nuclear program, emphasizing that monitoring activities cannot substitute for direct access to facilities to verify their actual status. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency urged Tehran to take technical and incremental measures to create the necessary conditions for the return of inspectors, reaffirming the Agency’s readiness to address legitimate concerns regarding safety and security, and its commitment to carrying out its mandate in a neutral, steadfast, and effective manner. (End) A.S.T./M.M.J.