Tokyo, Japan – Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has called for the adoption of an “extremely in-depth” verification system within Iran’s nuclear facilities. This call follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, with Grossi emphasizing that technical and regulatory safeguards are the fundamental pillars to ensure Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful.
A Strict Regulatory System to Ensure Transparency
Speaking to reporters in Japan, Grossi explained that the core objective of the agreement is to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. He stressed that Tehran’s declaration of not seeking a nuclear weapon is insufficient on its own; it must be coupled with a precise and comprehensive verification mechanism implemented as soon as conditions allow.
In this context, Grossi noted that the IAEA has already initiated preliminary talks with Iranian authorities following the MoU signing to discuss the future of nuclear oversight, anticipating that these consultations will accelerate in the coming period.
Technical Options for Handling Enriched Uranium
Ongoing discussions also address the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. Grossi revealed that the MoU provides the option of downblending this material, pointing out that shipping the materials outside of Iranian territory remains a viable technical alternative, despite its logistical complexities.
He confirmed the existence of several technical options that can be utilized to address the enriched uranium issue in a manner that fulfills non-proliferation requirements and builds trust within the international community.
Challenges of Resuming Cooperation and Inspections
It is noteworthy that Tehran had suspended IAEA inspectors’ visits to several of its facilities in July 2025, following a 12-day war, before later agreeing to resume cooperation under a new framework.
Over the past few months, agency inspectors were able to visit certain nuclear sites, such as the Bushehr nuclear power plant. However, they were unable to access the sites that had been bombed. Intensive consultations continue between the IAEA and Tehran to establish the necessary mechanisms to resume comprehensive inspections and ensure access to all relevant facilities, in alignment with the recent understandings between Washington and Tehran.
