The chief of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, has urged for renewed access for inspectors to Iran’s nuclear facilities to verify its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), made this appeal during an emergency session of the agency’s board of governors in Vienna on Monday. He emphasized the urgent need to account for uranium reserves enriched to high levels.
His call for inspections comes in the wake of recent military strikes by the United States and Israel on key Iranian nuclear sites. Addressing the escalating conflict, Grossi stressed the necessity for dialogue, declaring that peace in Iran, Israel, and across the Middle East is paramount. “We must return to the negotiating table, and to enable that, IAEA inspectors—our guardians of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty—must be allowed back into Iran’s nuclear facilities to verify the stockpiles, particularly the 400 kilograms enriched to 60 percent,” he stated.
According to Grossi, Tehran informed the IAEA on June 13 that it was implementing “special measures to protect nuclear equipment and materials.” However, he underscored that ongoing hostilities must cease to ensure the safety and security conditions necessary for inspectors to conduct thorough assessments.
Over the weekend, U.S. forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites, supplementing Israel’s sustained and unprovoked offensive against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Grossi reported that craters were now visible at Fordo, Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facility, suggesting that ground-penetrating bombs had been used. He warned of potentially “very significant damage” due to the powerful explosives and the sensitivity of the centrifuges to vibrations. Nonetheless, he admitted that neither the IAEA nor any other party had been able to fully assess the extent of the damage beneath Fordo’s surface.
The U.S. attacks followed Israel’s large-scale unprovoked military campaign, which began on June 13, targeting Iranian missile and nuclear installations, military commanders, security officials, and residential areas. Tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions have persisted for decades, with Western nations fearing that its enrichment activities are intended to develop nuclear weapons—a claim that Iran has consistently denied. Meanwhile, Israel continues to maintain strategic ambiguity regarding its nuclear capabilities, refusing to officially confirm or deny their existence. However, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that Israel possesses around 90 nuclear warheads.
European powers have urged Iran to resume diplomatic discussions with the United States to resolve the long-standing standoff. Iran, however, insists that meaningful talks can only resume once Israel halts its ongoing military assaults.
