In brief
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran have finalized an agreement that grants the IAEA access to Iran's nuclear installations and mandates reporting on materials at sites previously targeted by Israel. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi stated this updated framework would facilitate a cooperative relationship focused on transparency regarding Iran’s nuclear developments, particularly in light of escalating geopolitical tensions.
VIENNA (AP) — An agreement between Tehran and the United Nations’ atomic watchdog will provide the U.N. agency access to all of Iran’s nuclear facilities and require Iran to report on the whereabouts of material that was at sites attacked by Israel earlier this year, the head of the agency said Wednesday.The accord was announced Tuesday after a meeting between International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. Details of the agreement were not immediately released. In his address to the IAEA’s board of governors in Vienna, Grossi alluded to the document’s significance in restoring inspection protocols. “The agreement includes all facilities and installations in Iran and outlines necessary reporting on all attacked facilities, including the nuclear material present,” Grossi noted, emphasizing cooperation between Iran and the agency must now be promptly implemented.President Masoud Pezeshkian had previously signed a law suspending cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog following conflicts that saw Israel and the U.S. strike Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day war in June. The recent agreement signals a potential thaw in relations, with IAEA inspectors previously unable to verify Iran’s uranium stockpile amid rising concerns over its nuclear ambitions. This pact arrives amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions as European nations consider reinstating sanctions unless Iran resumes effective negotiations over its nuclear program. The future of this agreement could hinge on regional stability and diplomatic engagements moving forward.
