A senior official from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog will travel to Iran on Monday for talks, but no inspections of nuclear facilities will take place, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Sunday.
The visit comes nearly two months after Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites during a 12-day war in June, severely limiting the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) access to the country’s facilities.
Since then, inspectors have been barred from visiting sites, despite IAEA chief Rafael Grossi saying inspections remain his top priority.
Iran has accused the IAEA of helping pave the way for the strikes by releasing a critical report on May 31.
That report led the agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors to formally declare that Iran had breached its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Tehran strongly denies seeking nuclear weapons and insists it remains committed to the NPT.
“Negotiations with the IAEA will be held tomorrow to determine a framework for cooperation,” Araghchi said on his Telegram account. “A Deputy Director General of Mr. Grossi will come to Tehran tomorrow, but there are no plans to visit nuclear sites until we reach a framework.”
Last month, Iran’s parliament passed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA. Under the new rules, any future inspections require approval from the country’s Supreme National Security Council.
Diplomats say Monday’s meeting will be a key test of whether Tehran and the IAEA can rebuild enough trust to resume inspections — a step seen as vital to addressing international concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.
