WANA (Jun 24) – Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated on Wednesday that the UN nuclear watchdog will resume inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities as part of a recent agreement between Tehran and Washington.

 

Grossi’s remarks follow recent assertions by US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who both claimed that inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites would take place.

 

Speaking at a press conference at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, the IAEA chief addressed the political context of the statements. “I can understand political statements; they are part of reality. But the fundamental point I want to remind you of, and draw your attention to, is that there was a memorandum of understanding signed by both presidents,” Grossi said.

 

According to Grossi, the memorandum “explicitly states that nuclear activities to be carried out in relation to nuclear material facilities will be under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.”

 

The Director General—a former Argentine diplomat who has been actively campaigning for the position of UN Secretary-General in recent months—maintained that IAEA inspectors would visit Iranian nuclear sites under the framework of the temporary US-Iran agreement. However, he did not provide a specific timeline for the visits.

 

“Obviously, to do this, we need to inspect,” Grossi added. “Whether this happens the day after tomorrow, in a week, or in ten days is important, but not essential. It will happen.”

 

Tehran Denies Inspection Plans

Grossi’s claims stand in stark contrast to official statements from Tehran. On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei explicitly denied any such arrangements during his weekly press briefing.

 

“We have neither held a meeting with the Director General of the IAEA, nor do we have any plans for Agency inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities that were damaged due to the US and Israeli military aggression. There are no protocols in place regarding this matter,” Baghaei told reporters.

 

Nevertheless, Grossi maintained that inspections of Iran’s enrichment sites remain a key component of the interim agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at concluding hostilities.