Tehran, August 28, 2025 – Iran has clarified that the return of UN nuclear inspectors to one of its facilities does not mean a full restoration of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

On Wednesday, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed that inspectors had resumed work at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southwestern Iran, marking the first such visit since Tehran suspended cooperation last month following joint Israeli and US airstrikes on its nuclear and military sites.

Iran’s Position

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no final agreement has been reached on a new framework with the IAEA. “Views are still being exchanged,” he told state media, stressing that future cooperation will take a “new form.”

Inspectors currently require approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council before visiting facilities. For now, officials said the Bushehr inspection was limited to overseeing the replacement of fuel rods, without confirmation of access to other sites such as Fordo and Natanz, which were damaged in June’s strikes.

Calls for Wider Access

Grossi, speaking in Washington, said discussions are ongoing about inspections at other nuclear facilities. “There is no such thing as a la carte inspection work,” he noted, warning that Iran cannot restrict access only to non-attacked sites.

Diplomatic Maneuvers

The resumption comes as Iranian diplomats held talks in Geneva with Britain, France, and Germany, who have threatened to trigger the “snapback” mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal before its October 18 deadline—restoring UN sanctions on Iran.

Russia, however, has circulated a draft resolution at the UN Security Council seeking to delay that deadline by six months to give diplomacy more time. Deputy ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy called the proposal “a litmus test” for those serious about a diplomatic solution.

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