Iran offers access to nuclear inspectors for sanctions relief: report

Iran’s foreign minister has privately signaled willingness to restore international nuclear inspectors’ access to facilities damaged in past military strikes in exchange for sanctions relief, according to a Bloomberg report citing diplomats, though Tehran has denied aspects of the account.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised the idea during meetings with European and Middle Eastern diplomats at the United Nations in New York while attending the General Assembly, which concluded earlier this week, people familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg.

The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity.

The suggestion concerns sites bombed in US and ‘Israeli’ strikes, including facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, where the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has sought renewed access to verify nuclear material and activities.

The reported offer comes amid stalled peace talks between Iran and the United States.

Diplomats viewed the suggestion as a potential concession that could help break the deadlock.

Araghchi also pressed European counterparts to reverse a U.N. decision that reimposed broad sanctions on Iran through the “snapback” mechanism set in motion last September, but European officials refused, according to the report.

Iran’s severe economic pressures appear to underscore the outreach.

Inflation is nearly 90 percent year over year, and the rial has weakened about 30 percent against the dollar as sanctions take effect, Bloomberg reported.

A US naval blockade outside the Strait of Hormuz has further restricted oil exports.

Araghchi gave little public detail on the economy’s state during the talks, yet the linkage of inspectors’ access to sanctions relief was seen by diplomats as a sign of the country’s economic pain.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had separately indicated openness to inspections.

In a CBS “Face the Nation” interview last week, he responded “That is absolutely correct” when asked whether Iran would allow U.N. weapons inspectors in.

He added that if inspectors wished to come, “we can reach accords and agreements vis-à-vis that specific topic within the negotiations,” while reiterating that developing nuclear weapons is “haram” under Islamic principles.

The Bloomberg account noted that Araghchi had not previously been known to raise the specific private proposal during his New York stay.

Tehran quickly disputed the Bloomberg reporting.

An Iranian source told the Fars News Agency: “The Bloomberg claim regarding Iran’s proposal to the American side concerning the entry of IAEA inspectors is false.”

The denial focused on any direct proposal to Washington, while the original report described discussions with European and Middle Eastern diplomats.

Diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States remain stalled over the nuclear program, sanctions and related issues.

Access to the damaged sites has been a persistent point of contention.

The IAEA has repeatedly sought renewed entry after losing the ability to fully verify Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and activities following the strikes.

Iranian officials have previously conditioned cooperation on new frameworks or broader agreements, citing security concerns at the bombed facilities and the changed circumstances after the attacks.