Iran accused of illegally obtaining IAEA internal documents

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that confidential documents were acquired by Iran, raising concerns about the country’s cooperation with the agency.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated that Iran had accessed confidential documents from the organisation, calling the act “bad” and contrary to the spirit of cooperation expected between the parties.

Evidence confirmed in confidential report

According to a confidential report circulated to IAEA member states on May 31, Iran provided conclusive proof of the acquisition and analysis of internal documents belonging to the agency. The report raised serious concerns regarding Tehran’s collaborative stance and indicated that the situation could undermine the agency’s work on Iranian territory.

In his remarks, Grossi clarified that the situation dated back several years. “This is a case that goes back a few years,” he said during a press briefing, adding, “We could say with absolute clarity that documents belonging to the agency were in the hands of Iranian authorities, which is bad.”

Iranian reaction and diplomatic context

Iran rejected the report’s conclusions, calling them “slanderous”, and claimed that no concrete evidence had been presented to support the allegations. In a note addressed to agency members, Iranian authorities denied having conducted a targeted operation to collect data on the IAEA’s activities.

This development comes ahead of the IAEA Board of Governors’ quarterly meeting, which includes representatives from 35 member countries. The United States plans to submit a resolution declaring that Iran is in violation of its non-proliferation obligations, based on other findings in the report.

Possible implications for upcoming inspections

Tensions between Iran and the IAEA have increased in recent years, particularly following Tehran’s gradual reduction of cooperation with inspectors. Unauthorised access to internal documents could further complicate future discussions regarding inspections and Iran’s nuclear programme.

“We do not believe this action is compatible with the spirit and objectives of cooperation,” said Grossi, while noting that the agency’s assessments are also based on information provided by its member states.

The Tennessee Valley Authority partners with ENTRA1 Energy to develop up to 6 gigawatts of modular nuclear capacity, in an unprecedented project supporting energy growth across seven U.S. states.
A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency puts Iran’s 60% enriched uranium at 440.9 kg before Israeli and U.S. strikes, while the agency’s access to enrichment sites has remained suspended since the operations.
US-based Westinghouse has signed six industrial agreements in the UK to supply critical components for its AP1000 and AP300 nuclear projects in Britain and abroad.
NANO Nuclear Energy receives direct funding from the US Air Force innovation branch to assess the integration of its KRONOS MMR™ microreactor at the Washington D.C. military base.
EDF extends the operation of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool by one year after favourable safety inspections, ensuring continuity of nuclear production and safeguarding more than 1,000 jobs.
Russian nuclear group Rosatom has confirmed advanced discussions with India and Turkey to launch new power plants, including advanced and floating reactor technologies.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has identified uranium particles of industrial origin in samples taken from a Syrian site suspected of hosting an undeclared nuclear reactor.
Norwegian authorities begin the first regulatory phase for two modular nuclear reactor projects, marking a strategic step in the national review of the potential role of nuclear energy in the country’s power mix.
With eleven reactors under construction and major projects such as Jaitapur, India is preparing a nuclear build-up that could place it among the world’s five leading nations in the sector.
France and Germany have validated a joint energy roadmap, including a commitment to the non-discrimination of nuclear energy in European financing.
Russia and Iran seek to strengthen their nuclear cooperation as the E3 activates the sanctions mechanism against Tehran, reigniting tensions over compliance with the 2015 Vienna agreement.
US-based Natura Resources has secured strategic funding and key permits for its MSR-1 nuclear reactor, backed by public funds and enriched fuel allocation from the Department of Energy.
The United States and South Korea have agreed to initiate discussions on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, marking a potential strategic shift in the long-standing bilateral agreement.
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a 40-year extension for the AP1000 reactor design certification, supporting its long-term construction domestically and deployment abroad.
Nano Nuclear Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dioxitek, Argentina’s only uranium supplier for nuclear fuel, to assess the development of local conversion and enrichment capacities.
Stockholm plans to restart uranium extraction by lifting the 2018 ban, aiming to secure strategic supply chains and support domestic nuclear electricity production.
The French Atomic Energy Commission has signed a letter of intent with start-up Calogena to study the installation of a 30 MW thermal small nuclear reactor at its Cadarache site.
A Guidehouse Research report anticipates strong growth in the global nuclear modular reactor market, with revenues rising from $375.8 million in 2025 to $8.1 billion in 2034.
KHNP, Doosan, POSCO and Samsung C&T join US partners to develop 5 GW of modular reactors, expand uranium enrichment and build an 11 GW energy complex in Texas.
The US Department of Energy is creating an industrial consortium to accelerate domestic enriched uranium production and reduce reliance on foreign imports ahead of the Russian supply ban in 2027.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.