IAEA inspectors leave Iran as agency continues to push for engagement

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of inspectors has safely departed Iran, returning to the Agency’s headquarters in Vienna.

According to the agency’s post on X, the team remained in Tehran during the recent military conflict, Caliber.Az reports.

The agency also stated that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has emphasised the urgent need for the agency to engage with Iran on the modalities to resume its vital monitoring and verification activities in the country as soon as possible.

An IAEA team of inspectors today safely departed from Iran to return to the Agency headquarters in Vienna, after staying in Tehran throughout the recent military conflict. pic.twitter.com/65YQcDL7Ik

— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) July 4, 2025

The IAEA, tasked with monitoring Iran’s compliance under the NPT, has faced challenges since 2018, including restricted access to sites and undeclared nuclear activities at locations like Fordow and Natanz. 

Iran’s suspension of IAEA cooperation in June 2025 followed Israeli airstrikes on June 13, targeting nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and U.S. strikes on June 21, which used bunker-buster bombs. Iran reported 606–974 deaths from these attacks, per its Health Ministry and Human Rights Activists News Agency, prompting Tehran to limit IAEA inspections and threaten NPT withdrawal, citing violations of its sovereignty.

By Sabina Mammadli