IAEA inspectors return to Iran as nuclear talks intensify

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi said on August 26 that the agency’s first group of inspectors had arrived in Iran and would soon resume their work.

“Now the first team of IAEA inspectors is back in Iran, and we are about to restart,” Grossi told Fox News.

Speaking about the situation, Grossi noted the complexity of the mission due to recent incidents targeting Iranian facilities. “When it comes to Iran, as you know, there are many facilities; some were attacked, some were not,” he said. “So we are discussing what kind of modality is practical, [what kind of] modalities can be implemented, in order to facilitate the restart of our work there.”

He acknowledged the challenges ahead, pointing out the divided perceptions in Tehran regarding the presence of international inspectors. “It’s not an easy situation, as you can imagine, because for some in Iran, the presence of international inspectors is detrimental to their international security. For some, that is not the case,” Grossi explained.

Grossi also mentioned that he held a “very good meeting” with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff during discussions on the matter.

Iran has barred the IAEA from accessing its enrichment facilities since they were attacked, arguing that conditions remain unsafe for inspectors. At the same time, uncertainty surrounds the status and location of the country’s significant stockpile of enriched uranium.

“Due to the damage to our nuclear sites, we need to agree on a new plan with the agency — and we’ve conveyed that to IAEA officials,” an Iranian official said.

The IAEA developments coincide with renewed nuclear talks between Iran and the so-called E3 countries — the United Kingdom, Germany, and France — which took place on August 26. These discussions came in the wake of a joint statement by the three European nations signaling their readiness to trigger a mechanism to reimpose international sanctions if Tehran does not commit to a nuclear agreement by the end of August or agree to extend UN Security Council Resolution 2231, set to expire on October 18, 2025.

European diplomats have urged Iran to open negotiations with the United States to reach a new nuclear deal.

“We are going to see whether the Iranians are credible about an extension or whether they are messing us around. We want to see whether they have made any progress on the conditions we set to extend,” an E3 official said.

Those conditions, according to European officials, include the full resumption of IAEA inspections, a clear account of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, and engagement in diplomatic efforts that would involve Washington. Tehran, however, has repeatedly rejected the possibility of direct talks with the US.

By Tamilla Hasanova