IAEA and Western powers press Iran to resume nuclear cooperation
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has called on Iran to re-engage with inspections of its nuclear sites, as the United States and European powers push for more information on the country's enriched uranium. The appeal came during a quarterly meeting of the agency's Board of Governors on Monday. It follows renewed concern over the state of Iran's nuclear infrastructure after last year's strikes on its facilities.
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Rafael Grossi said it was "very important" that Tehran re-engage so the International Atomic Energy Agency can continue oversight of the programme. In a written statement, he urged Iran to work constructively to allow the full and effective implementation of safeguards. The United States, along with the United Kingdom, France and Germany, asked the board to adopt a resolution requiring Iran to provide clear information on the bombed sites and on the whereabouts of its enriched uranium.
The draft resolution, as described in the supporting material, would require Iran to provide "precise information on nuclear material accountancy and safeguarded nuclear facilities in Iran" and give the agency "all access" to inspect and verify sites. The resolution was expected to pass, with a similar initiative having succeeded last November. Iran's mission to the agency warned on social media that "coercion and confrontation do not lead to cooperation" and said such pressure undermined prospects for a diplomatic solution.
The issue matters because the condition of Iran's nuclear infrastructure and the location of its enriched uranium stockpiles remain unknown after the bombings last year. That uncertainty has added urgency to efforts by inspectors and Western governments to re-establish oversight. It also comes as talks between Washington and Tehran are described as being in a "complicated phase", raising the stakes for any diplomatic track.
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The supporting material says Israel and the United States bombed Iran's nuclear sites last year, and that the current military operation cited by President Donald Trump is aimed at preventing Iran from producing a nuclear weapon. Iran continues to insist that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes. The Board of Governors meeting therefore sits at the intersection of inspection, diplomacy and military pressure, with the agency trying to restore access while major powers seek clearer accounting of nuclear material.
What remains unclear is the exact condition of the damaged sites and the current whereabouts of the enriched uranium. It is also not clear how Iran will respond if the resolution is adopted, or whether the move will affect the wider negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The next key development will be whether the board formally approves the draft and whether Iran signals any willingness to restore cooperation with inspectors.
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