Giosi: IAEA oversight of Iran’s nuclear program has worsened

Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that the “IAEA’s oversight situation of Iran’s nuclear program for 2026 has worsened.”

Speaking in his opening statement at the seventieth annual general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency today in Vienna, he said: “In late February, new attacks were carried out against Iran. We were forced to call back our inspectors. Except for an inspection of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in June, for more than six months we have not carried out any on-the-ground verification activity in Iran.”

He also said that for more than a year, the Agency has lost access to information about low-enriched uranium and high-enriched uranium up to 60 percent of the isotope U-235 at the Fordow facility that was bombed during the 12-day war.

Stressing that “the situation of Iran’s nuclear program has an impact on the global non-proliferation regime,” Mr. Grossi considered a return to diplomacy and negotiations “vital,” and announced the Agency’s readiness to support these efforts.

Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, was also due to take part in this conference. As IRIB News reported, due to “U.S. pressure,” he was unable to enter Austria and attend the meeting.