The International Atomic Energy Agency says it expects to get back inside Iran’s nuclear facilities. After months of frozen access and diplomatic stalemate, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi indicated that inspectors are expected to visit Iranian nuclear enrichment sites as part of a preliminary interim deal between Washington and Tehran.
Verification activities had been completely suspended since February 28, 2026, when the IAEA formally ceased monitoring operations inside Iran due to a breakdown in cooperation.
How the monitoring freeze happened
IAEA inspectors first withdrew from certain Iranian sites in June 2025, citing safety concerns tied to regional conflict. That partial withdrawal cascaded into something larger.
By February 2026, cooperation had deteriorated to the point where the agency had no choice but to halt verification activities entirely.
