The deputy director of the United Nations nuclear agency is set to visit Iran in an attempt to mend strained relations; however, this trip will not include inspections of the country’s nuclear facilities, according to Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Context of the Visit
This upcoming visit marks the first since the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, during which significant Israeli and U.S. strikes targeted critical Iranian nuclear sites. Araghchi emphasized that until a new framework for cooperation is established, no collaborative efforts would take place, adding,
“As long as we haven’t reached a new framework for cooperation, there will be no cooperation, and the new framework will definitely be based on the law passed by the parliament.”
Limits on Inspector Access
Furthermore, Araghchi indicated that any cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would require the endorsement of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the country’s highest security authority. This declaration follows an order from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 3, mandating the suspension of cooperation with the IAEA after the controversial airstrikes.
This suspension is expected to significantly restrict the IAEA’s capability to monitor Iran’s nuclear program, which has been enriching uranium to levels approaching weapons-grade. Although it remains uncertain when negotiations between Tehran and Washington regarding a nuclear agreement will resume, Iran has a history of leveraging limited IAEA inspections as a negotiating tactic with Western powers.
Despite the U.S. and IAEA assessments indicating that Iran dismantled its organized nuclear weapons program in 2003, recent evaluations suggest that Tehran has been enriching uranium to levels as high as 60%, positioning itself just a technical step away from achieving the 90% enrichment level associated with nuclear weapons.
In the backdrop of these developments, the U.S. conducted airstrikes on three important Iranian nuclear facilities in June. The conflict reportedly resulted in nearly 1,100 deaths in Iran, including numerous military leaders and nuclear scientists, while 28 casualties were reported in Israel.
Tehran has expressed that the IAEA’s reports have played a significant role in escalating tensions, asserting that the agency’s findings enabled the strikes after a critical report was published on May 31. Despite denying any intentions to pursue nuclear weapons, Iran has reiterated its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Notably, recent legislation passed by the Iranian parliament stipulates that any future IAEA inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities must receive approval from the Supreme National Security Council. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has made it clear that maintaining inspections remains a top priority.