IAEA Chief: US-Iran Agreement Guarantees Access to Iranian Nuclear Facilities

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that, under an agreement between the United States and Iran, the IAEA will be guaranteed access to Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to Reuters and AFP, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who is currently visiting Japan, stated at a press conference on Friday (June 26), "An agreement has been reached, and to implement this agreement, the IAEA must enter Iran to conduct nuclear inspections." He added, "I hope to be able to enter Iran soon."
Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on June 17 and the subsequent opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. and Iran have been engaged in further negotiations regarding Iran's denuclearization and the lifting of sanctions.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with an Iranian delegation in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 22. During a press conference following the talks, he announced that Iran had agreed to the return of IAEA inspectors.
However, Iran maintains its stance that it cannot grant access to key facilities until a final agreement with the U.S. is reached and sanctions are lifted.
Director General Grossi's remarks on Friday are drawing attention as they suggest that IAEA inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities will proceed in some form, despite the ongoing differences between the U.S. and Iran regarding the inspections.
He also urged the need for a "very robust verification system" to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons following the conflict in the Middle East.
"The purpose of the agreement reached between the U.S. and Iran is to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons," Grossi emphasized. "While the Iranian government has quite clearly confirmed that it has no such intention, this is not enough. We must establish a very robust verification system as soon as possible."
Key issues in the nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran include the handling of highly enriched uranium, which is considered near-weapons-grade, and the status of uranium enrichment facilities within Iran.
After U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during his first term and reinstated sanctions, Iran gradually increased its uranium enrichment levels to 60 percent.
This has raised concerns in the international community, as it is a material that can be quickly processed into 90 percent highly enriched uranium, which is required for manufacturing nuclear bombs.
President Trump has demanded the removal or dilution of this near-weapons-grade uranium, which he claims is buried in Iran's underground nuclear facilities that were bombed by the U.S. and Israel during the war.
The actual condition of Iran's war-damaged underground nuclear facilities and the possibility of them being reused for a nuclear weapons development program are also being discussed as matters requiring verification.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.