IAEA chief prioritizes return of inspectors to Iranian nuclear sites following strikes

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), declared that securing the return of nuclear inspectors to Iran’s facilities is his foremost priority amid recent US and Israeli military strikes.

Grossi emphasized the urgent need to assess the damage inflicted and verify the current status of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Speaking at a security cabinet meeting in Austria, Grossi stressed, “This is the number 1 priority,” underscoring the critical role of on-site inspections in maintaining international oversight of Iran’s nuclear program. His efforts focus on gaining access to key sites, including the three uranium enrichment plants targeted during Israeli strikes on June 13.

When questioned about Iran’s disclosure regarding its uranium stockpiles—particularly the quantities enriched to nearly weapons-grade levels of 60 per cent purity—Grossi referenced a communication received from Tehran on the day of the attacks. He noted, “They did not get into details as to what that meant but clearly that was the implicit meaning of that. We can imagine this material is there,” implying that much of the enriched uranium likely survived the strikes.

By Vafa Guliyeva