IAEA inspections in Iran set to proceed as Tehran links access to a final US deal
IAEA inspections in Iran are expected to proceed, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on June 24, 2026, while Tehran says access depends on a final US agreement and sanctions relief.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on June 24, 2026 that inspections at Iran’s nuclear facilities are “going to happen,” but Tehran maintained that UN access will be contingent on a comprehensive agreement with Washington. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the memorandum of understanding signed in mid‑June 2026 with the United States explicitly states that nuclear activities at Iranian facilities will be supervised by the agency. Iranian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, reiterated that inspections of attacked sites will only be addressed within the framework of a final settlement and the termination of sanctions.
IAEA statement on inspections
Rafael Grossi told reporters during a visit to Japan that the mid‑June 2026 memorandum of understanding makes the agency’s supervisory role clear. He said the IAEA will need to carry out inspections and that dates and locations are being discussed with Iranian authorities. Grossi emphasized the timing was flexible, saying the precise schedule — whether “today, after tomorrow, or in one week, or in 10 days” — was important but not essential to the overall commitment to inspections.
Iran links inspections to sanctions relief
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi posted on X that UN inspectors’ access to nuclear sites damaged in previous attacks would be “solely examined and resolved within the framework of a final agreement” with the United States. He added that inspections depend on “the other party’s practical action in terminating all sanctions,” framing access as part of a broader negotiation over sanctions relief. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters there was no “clear schedule” for IAEA examinations of the attacked facilities.
Memorandum of Understanding and the 60‑day talks
The MoU signed in mid‑June 2026 opened a 60‑day window for talks between the United States and Iran aimed at addressing major disputes, including Tehran’s nuclear programme and its stockpile of enriched uranium. Grossi said the MoU “explicitly” assigns supervisory responsibilities to the IAEA, creating a formal pathway for inspections during the negotiation period. Both sides have described the agreement as a technical framework to resolve verification and access issues, while political differences remain.
Access to attacked nuclear sites remains contested
Inspectors have visited some Iranian facilities in recent months, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant in June 2026, but access to sites struck in previous hostilities has been denied. Iran passed a law in July 2025 that suspended cooperation with the IAEA following a 12‑day conflict with the United States and Israel earlier that year. In September 2025 Tehran agreed to allow inspectors to return under a new framework, yet disputes have persisted over access to locations damaged in the conflict and control of nuclear materials at those sites.
US and Iranian leaders make public remarks
US President Donald Trump said on June 23, 2026 that IAEA inspectors will be heading to Iran but added there was “no rush.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asserted that Tehran would not negotiate on its ballistic missile programme and that no talks on that subject had taken place. The public statements reflect parallel messaging from capitals that seek to manage both domestic audiences and international negotiating leverage while technical teams continue consultations.
Diplomatic timeline and upcoming technical talks
Despite gaps on access and sequencing, officials indicated talks will continue in Switzerland, with technical sessions expected to resume on June 29 or June 30, 2026. Grossi said detailed planning for inspections is under way “in collaboration and in cooperation with the government of Iran,” signalling close coordination between the IAEA and Tehran even as political frictions remain. The 60‑day window from mid‑June 2026 sets an effective deadline for technical progress, though negotiators may seek extensions depending on developments.
The coming days are likely to test whether the IAEA can secure the operational access it deems necessary while Tehran insists on reciprocity in sanctions relief and a binding outcome with Washington. Observers say the pace and scope of inspections will be a key indicator of whether the mid‑June 2026 MoU yields durable confidence‑building measures or merely temporary technical engagements.