The UN nuclear watchdog has announced a new cooperation agreement with Iran that allows access to all its nuclear sites. The deal was confirmed by agency chief Rafael Grossi during a meeting in Vienna on Wednesday.
Iran signed the agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday. The move comes after Tehran halted cooperation in June, following a 12-day war with Israel that included Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Since then, inspectors had limited access to sites.
Grossi said the new framework sets clear procedures for inspections and reporting. It includes “all facilities and installations in Iran” and covers those damaged during the June attacks. Nuclear material at these sites will also be monitored.
For months, IAEA inspectors were unable to enter key plants, including Fordo and Natanz. Only a brief mission took place at the Bushehr nuclear power plant last month, where a team supervised the replacement of fuel. The agreement is seen as a significant step toward restoring oversight.
Grossi noted that cooperation will now resume “in a respectful and comprehensive way.” He admitted challenges remain but stressed that both sides understand what needs to be done.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, warned that the deal would end if hostile actions were taken against the country. He said any attempt to reinstate lifted UN Security Council sanctions would be viewed as grounds to halt cooperation.
In August, Britain, France, and Germany began the process of reimposing UN sanctions. The three countries argued that Iran continued to breach commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement. Tehran rejected the move, calling it illegal and warning it could sideline European nations from future talks.
The agreement between Iran and the IAEA marks the first comprehensive arrangement since the suspension of inspections in June. While its success will depend on implementation, it signals renewed efforts to stabilize a tense nuclear dispute that has drawn international concern.
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