IAEA Chief Declares Iran Nuclear Inspections 'Going to Happen'

At the Fukushima Daiichi plant, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi declared that international inspections of Iran's nuclear sites are inevitable, contradicting both U.S. and Iranian officials who have offered divergent accounts of the framework deal signed last week.

President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian each endorsed the accord, beginning a 60-day window to finalize a peace agreement. Yet the question of IAEA access to enrichment facilities immediately became a flashpoint. On Monday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said inspectors would examine facilities hit by U.S. and Israeli strikes last year; a day later, Iran's foreign ministry insisted no such visits were scheduled.

The IAEA has been locked out of enrichment sites since the 12-day Israeli-Iran conflict in June 2025, when three main facilities were bombed. Tehran is believed to hold enough highly enriched uranium-up to 60% purity-to potentially build 10 weapons, though Iran says its program is peaceful. Without access, Grossi said, any agreement would be an illusion. The deal ties U.S. sanctions relief and a $300 billion reconstruction fund to verified nuclear compliance, but Iran claims relief must come first.