Recently, a dispute broke out between the United States and Iran over the visit of UN nuclear inspectors to sites in Iran.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said after talks with Iran’s top representative in Switzerland on Monday that Iran “agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back to the country.”
The next day, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said there had been “no detailed discussions” and that Iran had no plans to allow IAEA inspectors access to nuclear facilities bombed by the United States during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025.
US President Donald Trump dismissed Iran’s “complaints and false statements to the contrary” and said Iran had “completely and completely consented” to the inspections.
“There are wars and words here. Some say ‘yes’ and others say ‘no,’” the IAEA director-general said Wednesday. “I can understand political statements. It’s part of reality.
“But the fundamental thing… was that there was a memorandum of understanding signed by both presidents,” he added. “It is explicitly stated in bold letters that nuclear activities to be carried out in relation to nuclear materials, facilities will be supervised by the IAEA. This is what will happen.”
Grossi said the investigation would be conducted in cooperation with the Iranian government. “Whether this happens the day after tomorrow, a week from now, or 10 days from now, it’s important, but it’s not essential.”
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi appeared to protest against this statement.
He wrote to
“Media noise cannot be used to impose facts on the scene,” he added.
Under the 14-point memorandum of understanding, the United States and Iran committed to completing final negotiations within 60 days.
They say they “agreed to address the disposal of the stockpiled concentrates in a manner that is minimal enough to enable on-site down-blending under a mutually agreed upon mechanism… under the supervision of the IAEA.”
The IAEA said in a recent report:, external Inspectors were able to visit Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant earlier this month, but they are still not allowed access to the sensitive nuclear facility, which was bombed last June.
The watchdog said this means it cannot provide information about the current size, composition or whereabouts of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile or whether Iran has halted all enrichment activities. Most of the stockpile is believed to be inside underground tunnels at the Isfahan site.
Enriched uranium can be used to make nuclear weapons as well as fuel for nuclear reactors.
The IAEA reported on February 28 that before the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, Iran had 440 kg (970 lbs) of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, close to weapons grade. In theory, if enriched to 90%, it would be enough for 10 bombs.
Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and that it will never develop or seek to acquire nuclear weapons.
Under a 2015 deal with the United States and five other world powers, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities and allow continued and robust surveillance by IAEA inspectors in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions.
But Trump abandoned the agreement and reimposed U.S. sanctions during his first term in 2018, saying it did not do enough to block the path to the bomb.
Iran retaliated by increasingly violating trade restrictions, particularly those related to uranium enrichment.
