The top of the U.N.’s nuclear agency signaled Wednesday that Iranian nuclear enrichment sites can be visited by his inspectors, a key component within the interim U.S.-Iran to achieve an end to the war. But an Iranian diplomat promptly rejected this, saying such a visit can only come after a final deal — a denial that highlighted the precariousness of the continued negotiations.
The remarks by International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Mariano Grossi was the firmest yet from the United Nations agency, which is viewed as key in determining the status of Iran’s nuclear stockpile.
Since Israel launched a 12-day war on Iran in 2025, the IAEA has been blocked by Tehran from visiting enrichment sites where the Islamic Republic is believed to store enough highly enriched uranium to potentially construct as many as 10 nuclear weapons, should it decide to rush for the bomb. Iran long has maintained that its program is peaceful, though it’s the only country on this planet to have uranium enriched as much as 60 per cent purity and not using a weapons program.
The U.S. and Iran offered contradictory remarks Tuesday about whether those sites can be inspected. Grossi acknowledged the contradictions, calling it a “disagreement” for the time being.
Grossi says inspections are ‘going to occur’
“I can understand political statements, they’re a part of the truth, but the elemental thing I would really like to remind you and draw your attention to is that there was a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by each presidents,” he told journalists at a news conference on the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The accord “says explicitly that the nuclear activities which might be going to be carried out as regards to the nuclear material facilities will likely be supervised by the IAEA — in all letters,” he said.
Grossi added: “Obviously, to do this, we can have to examine. Whether this happens the day after tomorrow or in a single week or in 10 days, it’s vital, but not essential. That is going to occur.”
Those inspections are key for the deal, which calls for Iran’s stockpile of uranium to be “downblended” from highly enriched levels.
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Kazem Gharibabadi, a Iranian deputy foreign minister, took his own shot at Grossi after his remarks, saying Tehran didn’t meet with him while in Switzerland.
“These issues will likely be reviewed and decided only inside the framework of a final agreement and in consequence of practical motion by the opposite side to finish all sanctions and other measures.” Gharibabadi wrote on X.
He added: “You can not advance the ‘fire up and take over’ policy with media hype.”
IAEA blocked from seeing bombed sites
The IAEA has been allowed to go to other nuclear sites in Iran for the reason that 12-day war in 2025, similar to the Bushehr nuclear power plant. But without accessing the enrichment sites, the IAEA says it’s unable to confirm the status of Iran’s stockpile or check the cascades of centrifuges used to complement uranium. Each Iran and the IAEA say Tehran hasn’t been enriching uranium, but nonproliferation experts worry that the Islamic Republic could also be moving its stockpile to undeclared areas.
The U.S. and Iran agreed to a deal last week that calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium and waives U.S.-backed sanctions on Iranian oil, while giving either side 60 days to hammer out broader agreements.
However the uneasy ceasefire already has been tested by Iran saying it closed the strait again over fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon. Violence again broke out in Lebanon on Tuesday, however it didn’t escalate.
Technical-level talks between the U.S. and Iran are expected to resume early next week on the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. Pakistan has been a key mediator.
Marco Rubio is within the Middle East
Grossi’s remarks got here as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived within the Persian Gulf for a three-nation tour, starting with a closed-door meeting and personal working lunch in Abu Dhabi with Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the State Department said Wednesday.
Rubio is scheduled to travel next to Kuwait after which Bahrain for meetings with their leaders later Wednesday and Thursday.
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