- IAEA chief Rafael Grossi urges Iran to agree on nuclear inspections before next week’s board meeting.
- Lack of access since June 13 Israeli and U.S. strikes leaves fate of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile unclear.
- Tehran’s new law requiring Supreme National Security Council approval for inspections complicates talks.
- Diplomacy continues amid warnings that Iran retains capacity to build more centrifuges despite airstrikes.
The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog warned on Wednesday that talks with Iran on resuming inspections at nuclear sites damaged in recent Israeli and U.S. airstrikes cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely, urging both sides to reach an agreement as early as this week.
Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told Reuters in an interview that while diplomacy remains the preferred route, there is a pressing need to restore international oversight of Iran’s sensitive nuclear material following the June 13 strikes.
“These discussions cannot go on for months on end,” Grossi said at the agency’s Vienna headquarters. “I certainly hope that we can conclude this process soon. We are trying to have another meeting, perhaps within a few days now, here in Vienna, to conclude this and to start the inspections. It would be really good if we could have this agreed before next week.”
The urgency stems from the lack of concrete information on the whereabouts of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. While Iran’s enrichment facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan suffered heavy damage during the airstrikes, the IAEA has received no updates from Tehran on whether its stockpiles—some enriched up to 60%, a short technical leap from weapons-grade levels—remain intact. Before the attacks, Iran possessed enough material to potentially fuel six nuclear weapons if further enriched to 90%, according to IAEA metrics.
Grossi confirmed there is a “general understanding” that most of the material likely remains in place but stressed the need for direct verification. “Some could have been lost,” he said cautiously. “We don’t have indications that would lead us to believe there has been major movement of material, but this needs to be checked.”
Tehran Tightens the Rules
Complicating the negotiations is Iran’s recent law suspending automatic cooperation with the IAEA. Under the new framework, any inspections now require explicit approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, a move widely seen as Tehran reasserting control over its nuclear sovereignty after the strikes.
How this system would function in practice remains unclear. Diplomats say Iran insists on keeping the locations of its enriched uranium secret to prevent further attacks. Grossi made it clear, however, that Tehran’s domestic legislation cannot override its international obligations.
“Iran has been told that domestic law creates obligations for Iran, not for the agency,” he said, underscoring that the IAEA’s mandate comes from international treaties, not the political decisions of any single government.
Room for Diplomacy—But Not Forever
The IAEA had already informed Iran in late July of its intention to resume inspections, with Grossi emphasizing that more than a month cannot pass without verifying the status of uranium enriched to 20% or higher. Still, rather than confront Iran publicly and risk a diplomatic standoff, the agency has opted to keep dialogue open in hopes of achieving cooperation voluntarily.
“We are trying, as I’ve always tried, to give way to diplomacy, to allow for a process to be put back in place,” Grossi said. “Of course, this has to be done within a certain reasonable time frame.”
While the strikes severely degraded Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Grossi confirmed they had not eliminated the country’s ability to manufacture new centrifuges—the machines essential for enriching uranium. That fact adds urgency to the negotiations, as prolonged opacity could raise fears about whether Tehran might resume activities beyond international scrutiny.
High Stakes Before Next Week’s Board Meeting
The IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors meets next week in Vienna, where Grossi is expected to present two quarterly reports on Iran’s nuclear program. He admitted there is currently no breakthrough to report but left the door open for last-minute progress.
“I don’t lose all hope that before the board meets, we could maybe conclude,” he said, referring to the talks with Tehran.
The timing matters because Western diplomats have privately hinted that, absent progress, some countries could push for a resolution formally censuring Iran—a step Tehran has previously warned could provoke further escalation.
For now, both sides appear to be treading carefully. Iran has signaled it wants to avoid further international isolation, while the IAEA seeks to maintain its credibility as a neutral arbiter rather than a political instrument of Western powers.
A Bigger Stage for Grossi?
Beyond the immediate crisis, Grossi made headlines by confirming his intention to run for United Nations Secretary-General next year, potentially placing him at the center of global diplomacy.
“Yes, I am going to do that,” he told Reuters when asked directly about his candidacy.
For now, however, his focus remains on Iran. The stakes are unusually high: restoring access for international inspectors could help defuse one of the world’s most dangerous nuclear standoffs, while failure risks leaving key questions unanswered about Iran’s capabilities after the strikes.
“The sooner we have clarity, the better,” Grossi said. “This is about transparency, verification, and ultimately about international security. That’s why time is of the essence.”
As diplomats prepare for next week’s board meeting, all eyes are on whether Vienna will witness a breakthrough—or yet another missed opportunity—in the long-running nuclear saga between Iran, the West, and now, after the airstrikes, a newly assertive Tehran.