Nuclear Oversight Suspended; Grossi Under Iran’s Blade
WANA (Aug 24) – Following the recent 12-day conflict, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has sought to resume monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program, but Tehran has so far denied inspectors access.
According to Iranian officials, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi was suspended from engagement with Tehran after issuing what they described as a “biased report,” which they claim provided justification for U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran.
Since then, Grossi has attempted to restore the agency’s role through diplomatic pressure and mediation efforts by the United States, Europe, and even non-Western states such as Egypt. However, Iran has maintained that while communication with the IAEA continues, inspectors will not be allowed to return.
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, attended an exhibition showcasing Iran’s latest achievements in nuclear technology at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) on April 17, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, confirmed that Iranian officials recently held talks in Vienna with the agency’s Deputy Director General for Safeguards. He described the discussions as “progressive,” noting that both sides agreed to continue negotiations on drafting a framework for future interactions, in line with Iran’s parliamentary legislation.
That legislation, approved in July, requires suspension of cooperation with the IAEA. Seyed Mahmoud Nabavian, deputy head of Iran’s National Security Commission, stated that under the law, no IAEA personnel—including inspectors, directors, or staff—would be permitted entry into the country.
He alleged that the agency had previously passed confidential Iranian reports “directly to Israel,” and therefore, the new law prohibits the transmission of any nuclear-related reports to Vienna. Nabavian added that the law aims to protect Iran’s nuclear facilities and enforce its rights under Article 4 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Ghalibaf Issues Law Mandating Suspension of Cooperation with IAEA
WANA (Jun 26) – Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has officially notified Iran’s President Pezeshkian of the new law requiring the government to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In a post on his personal account on the social media platform X, Ghalibaf shared an image of the […]
Meanwhile, European officials have urged Tehran to allow IAEA monitoring to resume. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following consultations with European foreign ministers and Iranian negotiators, described Iran–IAEA engagement as “vital” and called on Tehran to fully cooperate with the agency.
Reports in some Western outlets claimed that Iran had threatened to arrest Grossi if he traveled to the country, though no Iranian authority has confirmed such a stance. Iranian officials dismissed these reports as “media provocations” aimed at restoring the IAEA’s credibility under Grossi.
Other Western media suggested that these alleged threats have further complicated negotiations. Iranian officials, however, maintain that such coverage reflects a coordinated media campaign designed to undermine Tehran’s decisions and exert pressure on Iran.
Foreign Ministers of the European Troika. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Separately, reports indicate that IAEA officials will travel to Washington next week to consult with U.S. authorities over concerns that the agency cannot determine Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile without renewed inspections. The trip follows Grossi’s failure to secure Tehran’s approval to resume monitoring.
Iranian officials argue that the IAEA acted against Tehran’s interests both before and during the recent conflict—by releasing reports critical of Iran’s nuclear program and by failing to safeguard its nuclear facilities. They now describe the agency’s post-war activities as serving Western interests and potentially endangering Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
