The UN nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday it needs more Iranian cooperation to restore full inspections at sites hit in June’s strikes, warning that verification of enriched uranium stocks is “long overdue.”
In his opening statement to the IAEA Board of Governors, UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi said the agency urgently needs access to Iran’s inventories of low-enriched and high-enriched uranium, which have not been checked for five months.
Grossi said he is in regular contact with Iranian officials following a September agreement in Cairo that set inspection procedures after the attacks, but added that “further constructive engagement is needed” to implement the deal in full.
The remarks come as the United States and three European allies have submitted a draft resolution demanding that Iran promptly restore cooperation and provide comprehensive nuclear-material accountancy.
Diplomats told Reuters on Tuesday that the measure is expected to pass at the board meeting later this week.
The text calls on Iran to grant the agency “all access it requires” and to fully implement the Additional Protocol without delay.
Tehran has warned that such a resolution could undermine the September understanding reached with Grossi.
Earlier this week, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the Western push would compromise the agreement, while Iranian officials have linked stalled access to the reimposition of UN sanctions in late September under the snapback mechanism.
Iran has yet to allow inspectors to visit the facilities damaged during Israeli and US strikes in June, according to a confidential IAEA report seen by Reuters earlier this month.
The report said the agency has not been able to verify Iran’s enriched-uranium stockpile since the attacks, when inspectors last confirmed about 440 kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity.
Access granted to unaffected sites
Grossi told the board on Wednesday that establishing the status of Iran’s enriched material “needs to be addressed urgently,” warning that extended gaps in verification increase risks to the safeguards system.
“It is critical the agency be able to verify this material as soon as possible,” he said.
The IAEA chief added that Iran has facilitated access with advanced notice to “almost all unaffected facilities,” calling this step welcome but insufficient.
The renewed push for cooperation follows a turbulent year in which Israeli and US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day war in June left parts of the program damaged.
Iranian officials say the strikes undermined the credibility of the IAEA and have accused the agency of failing to condemn the attacks.
The IAEA board will continue discussions this week as Western governments seek to pressure Tehran back into full compliance, while Iran argues that sanctions and security concerns must also be addressed.
