Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), announced that the agency’s inspections in Iran have resumed, but inspectors still do not have access to the key nuclear facilities of Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
These key facilities suffered serious damage in U.S. strikes during the 12-day war.
Grossi said in an interview with Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency on Monday, December 15, that the agency’s activities in Iran are very limited and inspectors only have access to facilities that were not targeted by U.S. and Israeli attacks.
Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran’s regime, had said on December 8 that resuming the agency’s inspections is currently not possible because “there is no protocol or guideline” for inspecting facilities he described as “peaceful.”
However, in the interview with RIA Novosti, Grossi stated that inspections of those Iranian nuclear facilities that are on the list agreed upon by Tehran and the agency have resumed, and that this is of great importance to the IAEA.
He added that it is obvious that Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan are of greater importance, as they still contain significant amounts of nuclear material and equipment, and the agency must gain access to them.
On the other hand, Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran’s regime, on December 15 criticized the positions of the international agency and once again opposed inspections by the IAEA of key nuclear sites in Iran.
He added: “There must be a protocol for the agency to inspect nuclear centers that were attacked in order for permission to be granted. An agency that has neither condemned the attacks nor has guidelines for such conditions has no right to claim inspections.”
Eslami continued: “That the [agency], under pressure from three European countries, the United States, and Israel, puts pressure on us is not important to us and has no effect.”
On December 13, the IAEA director general reported efforts to find a “sustainable solution” to Tehran’s nuclear file and said the Iranian regime’s stockpile of 400 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium remains intact.
Grossi had previously confirmed that Tehran still has the capacity to build a nuclear weapon.
On May 31, before the war, the International Atomic Energy Agency stated in a confidential report that Iran had carried out clandestine nuclear activities at three sites that have long been under investigation.
In recent days, speculation about the future of Tehran’s nuclear program has increased, and the Iranian regime’s insistence on continuing it has heightened the likelihood of a reaction from the international community, particularly the United States, Israel, and the European troika.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 12 during a meeting with Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran’s regime, in Turkmenistan that Moscow will continue to support Iran’s regime on the nuclear file.
The Al-Monitor website reported on December 7, citing European diplomats, that Israel is likely to carry out another military attack on the Iranian regime in 2026 even without the approval of the Donald Trump administration.
