IAEA chief reinvites Iran to negotiating table

• Grossi assured Tehran that its national security and facility safety concerns will be taken into account as verification activities resume.
• IAEA acknowledged the severe operational challenges posed by ongoing Middle East conflicts on nuclear safeguards.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has extended a renewed invitation to Iran to resume direct cooperation, aiming to resolve critical outstanding questions surrounding Tehran’s nuclear activities amid heightened regional tensions. This came during the 7th General Conference Plenary of IAEA.

"We extend our hand to Iran once again to work with us to clarify issues related to its nuclear program. I say to Iran that we will take its security concerns into account when we resume our work there," Grossi stated.

Addressing the broader geopolitical backdrop affecting the agency's monitoring missions, Grossi added: "We recognize the difficulty of the situation due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region."

The diplomatic overture follows a prolonged disruption in agency oversight. The IAEA formally reported losing "continuity of knowledge" regarding Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles, including Material Enriched up to 60% U-235, after losing in-field verification access at declared facilities following military strikes in mid-2025.

While regional hostilities continue to complicate international diplomacy, the IAEA maintains that full compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement remains the only viable path to resolving global proliferation concerns and restoring international confidence in Iran's nuclear program.