International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN Nuclear watchdog, Wednesday said the IAEA’s top preference is to send the inspectors to the Iranian nuclear facilities to assess the impact on the ground after US and Israeli strikes. The agency said that it would also take the stock of enriched Uranium.
While addressing a news conference at an Austrian security cabinet meeting, International Atomic Energy Agency chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said, “This is the number 1 priority.” He sought that the IAEA inspectors should visit the three nuclear facilities too where Iran was enriching Uranium.
Grossi posted on X, “There is now a real possibility for diplomacy on the situation in Iran, and we must seize it.”
There is now a real possibility for diplomacy on the situation in Iran, and we must seize it.
Thanks to 🇦🇹 @bkagvat's Chancellor @_CStocker, Vice Chancellor @AndiBabler and @MFA_Austria’s @BMeinl for the invitation to brief the Austrian Government on this critical matter. pic.twitter.com/RuqR9jzJT9---Advertisement---— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) June 25, 2025
On June 23, Grossi emphasised that the nuclear non-proliferation regime, which has maintained international security for over half a century, is at risk due to the escalating conflict.
‘Need for a diplomatic solution’
He stressed the need for a diplomatic solution, urging all parties to return to the negotiating table and allow IAEA inspectors to monitor Iran’s nuclear sites after US-led Operation Midnight Hammer targeted three key Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
“Iran, Israel, the Middle East, need peace and there is a path for diplomacy. We must return to the negotiating table and allow the IAEA inspectors, the guardians of the NPT, to go back to Iran’s nuclear sites and account for the stockpiles of uranium, including, most importantly, the 400kg enriched to 60%. Any agreement, any arrangement will have as a pre-requisite the establishment of the facts on the ground. This can be done only through IAEA inspections,” said Grossi.
IAEA chief highlighted the seriousness of the situation
Grossi highlighted the seriousness of the situation, citing recent bombardments and the potential widening of the conflict, which could have catastrophic consequences.
“The nuclear non-proliferation regime that has underpinned international security for more than half a century is on the line. The dramatic events in Iran have become even more serious with last night’s bombardments and the potential widening of the conflict. We have a window of opportunity to return to dialogue and diplomacy. If that window closes, violence and destruction could reach unthinkable levels and the global non-proliferation regime as we know it could crumble and fall,” said the IAEA chief.
