‘Iran’s nuclear sites will be inspected, it will happen’, big statement from IAEA chief Rafael Grossi

Desk. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Mariano Grossi has given a big statement on Wednesday. He indicated that agency inspectors would visit Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites, a key part of the interim agreement between the US and Iran to end the war. Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, made this comment while talking to the media in Tokyo. Tehran limited IAEA inspectors’ access to nuclear sites after Israel attacked Iran last year.

It is believed that Iran has stored so much highly enriched uranium at these sites that about 10 nuclear bombs can be made from it. However, Iran continues to claim that its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes. It is the only country in the world that, despite claiming not to have a nuclear weapons program, has enriched uranium to 60 percent, which is considered close to weapons-grade levels.

A day before this, America and Iran had given conflicting statements regarding the inspection of these nuclear centers. “I can understand political statements,” Grossi said at a press conference at the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. They are part of the ground reality. But I want to draw your attention to the main fact that the Presidents of both the countries have signed an agreement.

He said, ‘That agreement clearly states that all activities related to nuclear materials and nuclear centers will be monitored by the IAEA.’ Grossi said, ‘Obviously, for this we will have to go there and inspect. Be it after a day, after a week or after 10 days. It’s important, no matter when. It’s going to happen.’

This inspection is critical to the success of the deal, as it would require Iran to reduce its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the level of enrichment. There was no immediate reaction from Iran on Grossi’s statement.

On Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai told journalists in Tehran that there are currently no plans for IAEA inspectors to visit the nuclear sites that were targeted by the US in bombings last year. His statement was contrary to the claim made a day earlier by US Vice President JD Vance, in which he had expressed the possibility of inspection.