A senior official from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to visit Iran for discussions today, although no inspections of nuclear sites will take place, according to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. This development comes after Israel’s military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during a brief conflict last month, which have restricted the IAEA’s access to these sites.
The IAEA’s chief, Rafael Grossi, has indicated that maintaining inspection capabilities in Iran is a high priority for the agency. However, tensions have escalated since Iran accused the IAEA of indirectly facilitating the Israeli bombings. This was sparked by a critical report released on May 31, which resulted in the IAEA’s Board of Governors identifying Iran as being in violation of its non-proliferation commitments.
Iran maintains that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons and upholds its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). As part of the ongoing diplomatic engagement, Araghchi announced that a Deputy Director General from the IAEA will arrive in Tehran for negotiations aimed at establishing a framework for future cooperation. However, he clarified that there are no plans for a visit to Iran’s nuclear facilities until an agreement is in place.
Complicating matters, Iran recently enacted legislation that halts cooperation with the IAEA. The new law requires that any inspections conducted by the IAEA must receive approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. This legislation reflects Iran’s attempt to exert greater control over the inspections process amidst increasing scrutiny and geopolitical tensions.
While the upcoming talks may provide an opportunity to reshape the terms of inspection and cooperation, the current climate remains fraught with mistrust and competing narratives.