The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has confirmed that a team of its inspectors has returned to Iran for the first time since Israeli and US strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this year.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in an interview with Fox News that the resumption of inspections marked a tentative step toward re-establishing cooperation with Tehran. “Now the first team of IAEA inspectors is back in Iran, and we are about to restart,” Grossi said. “When it comes to Iran, as you know, there are many facilities. Some were attacked, some were not. So we are discussing what kind of practical modalities can be implemented in order to facilitate the restart of our work there.”
Iran suspended its cooperation with the IAEA in June after a 12-day war with Israel. At the time, Tehran accused the watchdog of failing to condemn the Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear sites. The conflict severely strained Iran’s relations with the agency and further complicated efforts to revive nuclear diplomacy.
The inspectors’ return coincides with renewed talks between Iran and European powers in Geneva. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi attended discussions with representatives from Britain, France and Germany, urging them to avoid escalating tensions. “It is high time for the European trio to make the right choice and give diplomacy time and space,” Gharibabadi said.
The three European countries, all signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal, have threatened to trigger the accord’s “snapback mechanism” by the end of August, a move that would reimpose United Nations sanctions on Tehran. The Geneva meeting marked the second round of discussions since the end of the June war, which was sparked by what Israel described as a preemptive strike to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Tehran has consistently denied pursuing such ambitions.
The wider diplomatic effort remains fragile. The conflict in June not only disrupted Iran’s talks with the United States but also deepened mistrust between Tehran and the IAEA. The inspectors’ return, however, suggests a cautious attempt to rebuild technical oversight amid political tensions.
The nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has been under strain since 2018 when then-US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the agreement and reimposed sanctions. Since then, negotiations have stumbled repeatedly, with flare-ups like the recent war further undermining chances of restoring the deal.
As Europe weighs its next steps and the IAEA attempts to resume its monitoring role, Iran’s nuclear program once again sits at the centre of a broader geopolitical struggle, with the future of diplomacy hanging in the balance.
