International Atomic Energy Agency Director‑General Rafael Grossi has confirmed that UN nuclear inspectors will travel to Iranian sites under the newly signed US‑Iran provisional agreement. Grossi said the inspections “will indeed take place” and that the IAEA will soon work out the dates, procedures and exact places for the inspections, reinforcing a key provision of the 14‑point memorandum signed last week that explicitly requires the dilution of Iran’s highly enriched uranium to be performed under IAEA supervision.
The announcement comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and expressed confidence that any US‑Iran deal would not jeopardise the security of Gulf allies. Rubio also said the United States would remain aligned with its regional partners and that negotiations would likely resume in Switzerland before month’s end.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi, however, warned that access to damaged nuclear facilities and nuclear material would only be addressed within a final agreement with the US and after all sanctions were lifted. He criticized media coverage for “imposing facts” on the ground and reminded that the current agreement, while a first step, still leaves many practical questions open.
The IAEA has already visited Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, but inspectors are yet to see the highly classified sites that were bombed during the 12‑day conflict between Israel and Iran in June 2025. Without access to these locations, the watchdog cannot confirm the current size or composition of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, which, before the war, was estimated at 440 kg of 60 % enrichment.
The agreement also stipulates that Iran will allow shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while the US will lift its naval blockades on Iranian ports. This arrangement has already seen dozens of vessels navigate the strait under a humanitarian evacuation scheme.
Oil markets have reacted sharply: Brent crude fell below $75 (≈£57) on Wednesday, the lowest level since the LASE action against Iran began. The price dip reflects both the immediate geopolitical volatility and expectations that the new accord may impose further constraints on Iranian oil exports.
The IAEA’s confirmation underscores the increasingly critical role of international inspectors in China's nuclear stability. While the US‑Iran talks progress, the final deal is still subject to negotiation within the next 60 days and will define whether the shared vision of peaceful nuclear technology can be maintained without an expansion of weapons‑grade material.
