IAEA chief says inspections in Iran will happen despite Tehran dispute

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday that inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities will take place, rejecting Tehran’s public claim that it has not agreed to let IAEA inspectors back into the country. Speaking during a visit to the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, Grossi said that political statements are part of reality, but emphasized that a memorandum of understanding signed by the two presidents clearly says all nuclear activities at facilities containing nuclear material in Iran will be under IAEA oversight.

Grossi added that inspections are necessary to carry out that mandate, though the timing is flexible. “It does not matter if it happens the day after tomorrow, in a week, or in 10 days. It is important, but it is not critical. It is going to happen,” he said.

The remarks came after US Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that Iran had agreed to readmit IAEA inspectors. Vance called it a major milestone for Americans and “the first step toward permanent nuclear disarmament or a permanent end to Iran’s nuclear weapons program.” He said the agreement was reached only overnight, so inspectors had not yet been sent, but predicted they would return this week, possibly already on Tuesday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Esmail Baghaei denied Vance’s account and said Tehran does not intend to allow IAEA inspectors to visit the nuclear sites that were attacked during the confrontation.