Iran (IMNA) - Addressing the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna on Wednesday, Director General Rafael Grossi announced that inspectors had conducted inspections and design information verifications at multiple sites in Tehran, in line with a September agreement reached in Cairo.
“Since then, Iran has facilitated access to the Agency for inspections and design information verification, with advance notice, at almost all unaffected facilities in Tehran. This is welcome,” Grossi said following the presentation of his quarterly report on the NPT Safeguards Agreement with Iran.
Iran had previously reported the same developments. Earlier this month, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed that IAEA inspectors had visited several nuclear facilities as part of Iran’s obligations under the NPT.
Grossi nonetheless emphasized that further progress is needed to restore full access at sites damaged in the US-Israeli attacks.
“Though I note Iran’s cooperation on inspections at a number of facilities, further constructive engagement is needed. I urge Iran to facilitate the full and effective implementation of safeguards activities in accordance with its NPT Safeguards Agreement, and I reiterate my disposition to work with Iran on this matter,” he said.
He stressed that determining the status of Iran’s low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-enriched uranium (HEU) inventories remains urgent.
“As I have already said, the establishment of the current status of Iran’s inventories of LEU and HEU needs to be addressed urgently. The Agency’s five-month-long lack of access to this nuclear material means that its verification — according to standard safeguards practice — is long overdue.”
The IAEA’s latest report focuses heavily on Iran’s uranium stockpile while avoiding reference to Israeli-US aggression. Under the Cairo agreement, Iran and the IAEA had committed to creating a new inspection mechanism for damaged nuclear sites — a first in the Agency’s history. Yet this process has stalled following attempts by European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal to trigger the snapback mechanism and restore UN sanctions ahead of the accord’s expiration.
In Iran, the IAEA has recently faced intense criticism for claiming insufficient Iranian cooperation and for actions perceived as aiding US and Israeli efforts to justify aggression. The Agency’s failure to condemn the US-Israeli attacks sparked wider calls for Iran to cut ties with the IAEA and withdraw from the NPT.
Iran’s decision to remain in NPT ‘wise’
Speaking to reporters after the board meeting, Grossi called Iran’s decision to remain within the NPT framework “wise” and said he expected cooperation to continue.
Addressing efforts by the US and its European allies to push for a censure resolution at the Board of Governors meeting, Grossi insisted that the IAEA is not seeking any state to pursue such a measure, stressing that the Agency must remain focused on its core mandate under the NPT.
He acknowledged that the IAEA must also consider Iran’s newly enacted law on inspection procedures, passed after the June attacks, which halts all cooperation beyond NPT safeguards until Iran’s nuclear facilities are assured protection.
Iran has accused the United States and three European states of politicizing the Board of Governors by promoting a resolution against Tehran, warning that such an action would damage Iran–IAEA cooperation.
On November 16, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi cautioned that Tehran would conduct a “fundamental review” of its policies should the Board adopt a new resolution.
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