UN watchdog says Iran nuclear inspections 'going to happen'

Tokyo: The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said Wednesday that inspections at Iranian atomic sites were "going to happen" but did not offer a specific timeline.

His comment came after Tehran and Washington signed a preliminary deal aimed at ending the Middle East war, and which cited the involvement of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in next steps on Tehran's programme.

Read more: Trump says he would 'cancel meetings' with Iran if they deny IAEA nuclear inspections


IAEA chief Rafael Grossi told reporters during a visit to Japan that the agreement "explicitly" states "nuclear activities that are going to be carried out with regards to nuclear material facilities will be supervised by the IAEA".

"Obviously, to do that, we will have to inspect," Grossi said.

Dates and locations of any inspections are currently under discussion, with a decision to be made soon "in collaboration and in cooperation with the government of Iran", he said.

"Whether this happens today, after tomorrow, or in one week, or in 10 days, it's important but not essential. This is going to happen."

Iran said Tuesday that the nuclear watchdog would not be allowed to inspect sites bombed by the United States and Israel last year, rejecting Vice President JD Vance's claim that Tehran had agreed to allow inspectors there.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said on Tuesday that Iran had "fully and completely agreed" to allow nuclear inspectors to return to the country.

On Wednesday, the Iranian official overseeing technical discussions in negotiations with Washington reiterated that no agreement had been reached on IAEA inspections.

Iran has "no plans to grant access to the targeted facilities or to nuclear materials", Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, referring to sites attacked by US and Israeli forces.

Gharibabadi also said Iran had refused to meet with Grossi in Switzerland despite his requests.

Since US-Israeli bombardments in June 2025, uncertainty has surrounded the status of hundreds of kilograms of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpiles.

Tehran has consistently denied seeking to acquire an atomic bomb, while remaining adamant about its right to operate a full-scale civilian nuclear programme.

Under a law passed by the Iranian parliament in the wake of last year's 12-day war, Tehran suspended cooperation with the IAEA in July.

Read more: Trump: Iran has agreed to 'N' checks till infinity; no talks with IAEA, says Tehran

However, Iran agreed in September to allow inspectors to return after settling on a new framework, and IAEA officials have visited the country in recent months, including a visit to the Bushehr nuclear power plant early this month. Yet, inspectors were denied access to the bombed sites.