Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Wednesday that inspectors will visit Iranian nuclear facilities as stipulated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by both presidents, pushing back against Tehran's official position barring IAEA access. Speaking at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, Grossi said the agreement explicitly states that all nuclear activities at facilities with nuclear material will be under IAEA supervision, and that inspections will take place "tomorrow, in a week, or in ten days."
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Wednesday directly contradicted Iran's official position barring inspectors from its nuclear sites, insisting that the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding — signed by the U.S. and Iranian presidents — mandates full agency access. Speaking at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, Grossi acknowledged Iran's political statements but said the signed agreement 'explicitly stipulates that all nuclear activities at facilities where nuclear material is present will be under IAEA supervision, in every sense.' He added that inspections are 'going to happen' and could begin 'tomorrow, in a week, or in ten days.'
Grossi's remarks mark the latest twist in a fast-moving nuclear diplomacy saga. As The Zioneer reported on Tuesday, Iran had announced it would not allow IAEA inspections, a stance that appeared to challenge U.S. assertions of progress toward a deal. Earlier that day, Grossi had also confirmed the agency would conduct tests at Iranian facilities — a position now reinforced with explicit reference to the memorandum's legal force.
What remains unsettled: the precise timeline for inspections and whether Tehran will sustain its rejection or comply with the signed accord. Grossi did not address the mechanism for enforcement if Iran maintains its refusal.
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