The chief of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, has urged that inspectors be granted renewed access to Iran’s nuclear facilities to verify its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium.
Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), appealed during an emergency session of the agency’s board of governors in Vienna on Monday, stressing the urgent need to “account for” uranium reserves enriched to high levels.
His call for inspections comes in the wake of recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on key Iranian nuclear sites.
Addressing the escalating conflict, he emphasised the necessity for dialogue, declaring that peace in Iran, Israel, and across the Middle East is paramount.
“We must return to the negotiating table, and, to enable that, IAEA inspectors—our guardians of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty—must be allowed back into Iran’s nuclear facilities to verify the stockpiles, particularly the 400 kilogrammes enriched to 60 per cent,” he stated.
According to Grossi, Tehran had notified the IAEA on June 13 that it was implementing “special measures to protect nuclear equipment and materials.”
However, he stressed that ongoing hostilities must cease to ensure the safety and security conditions required for inspectors to conduct thorough assessments.
Over the weekend, US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites, supplementing Israel’s sustained, unprovoked offensive against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Grossi revealed that craters were now visible at Fordo, Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facility, suggesting that ground-penetrating bombs had been used.
He warned of potentially “very significant damage” due to the powerful explosives and the centrifuges’ sensitivity to vibrations.
Nevertheless, he admitted that neither the IAEA nor any other party had been able to fully assess the extent of the damage beneath Fordo’s surface.
The US attacks followed Israel’s large-scale unprovoked military campaign, which began on June 13, targeting Iranian missile and nuclear installations, military commanders, security officials, and residential areas.
Tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions have persisted for decades, with Western nations expressing fears that its enrichment activities are intended to develop nuclear weapons—a claim that Iran has consistently denied.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to maintain strategic ambiguity over its nuclear capabilities, refusing to officially confirm or deny their existence.
However, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that Israel possesses around 90 nuclear warheads.
European powers have urged Iran to resume diplomatic discussions with the United States to resolve the long-standing standoff.
Iran, however, insists that meaningful talks can only resume once Israel halts its ongoing military assault.
