The UN nuclear watchdog says it has reached an agreement with Iran on the practical modalities to resume inspection activities in Iran, which were halted following the Israeli and US airstrikes on Iranian atomic facilities in June.
The deal was reached following negotiations between Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi and the UN nuclear watchdog's chief Rafael Grossi in Cairo.
"In Cairo today, agreed with Iran's foreign minister Araghchi on practical modalities to resume inspection activities in Iran," Grossi said in a post on X.
"This is an important step in the right direction. Grateful to Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty for his commitment and engagement," he added.
In a press conference in Cairo, Araghchi said the two sides reached "an understanding on how to implement Iran’s Safeguards commitments in light of developments stemming from the unlawful attacks against Iran’s nuclear facilities."
"This agreement establishes a practical mechanism for cooperation that reflects both Iran’s exceptional security conditions and the Agency’s technical requirements. It also ensures that cooperation continues in a manner that respects Iran’s national sovereignty and fulfills the Agency’s verification requirements," Araghchi added.
However, he warned that "should any hostile action be taken against Iran — including the reinstatement of revoked UN Security Council resolutions — Iran will consider these agreed practical steps null and void."
Addressing the same press conference, Grossi described the agreement with Iran on resuming inspections as a "step in the right direction."
“This is a door we are opening and of course, there are many things that still need to happen, we have to implement it in good faith. Others around the world can help us and I am sure that they will do right that," he told reporters without giving further details.
Iran suspended all cooperation with the agency including international inspections after Israel and the United States attacked its nuclear facilities in June.
The resumption of IAEA inspections is seen as critical for verifying Iran’s compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and preventing further escalation.
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, before moving to trigger the UN snapback sanctions mechanism on August 28, urged Iran to fully cooperate with the agency and engage in dialogue with the United States.
The Security Council must vote by late September on whether to make sanctions relief permanent. For the resolution to pass, it would need at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the five permanent members: the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China.
