Iran and IAEA sign technical agreement to restart nuclear inspections

Iran has reached a new agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency to formalise the resumption of inspections, following months of suspension linked to military tensions and criticism of its nuclear programme.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have agreed on a new cooperation framework aimed at restarting nuclear inspections that were suspended in mid-June. The move comes amid increasing diplomatic pressure and threats of renewed sanctions from several European countries.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed the agreement following a meeting in Cairo with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Both parties signed a document titled “Technical Modalities for the Implementation of Inspections”, intended to formalise the resumption of monitoring activities at Iran’s nuclear sites.

Suspension of inspections since June

The agreement follows several months of deadlock after an Israeli attack on Iranian territory in June, followed by US airstrikes targeting nuclear-related facilities. In response, Tehran suspended its cooperation with the IAEA, accusing the agency of failing to condemn the bombings.

According to Iranian authorities, the decision to resume cooperation is based on a new political understanding that considers the situation created by recent military events and a critical resolution passed by the IAEA’s Board of Governors. A law passed in July by the Iranian Parliament formally bans cooperation with the agency, unless an exemption is authorised by the Supreme National Security Council.

Threat of reactivated European sanctions

The initiative comes as France, Germany and the United Kingdom — grouped as the E3 — triggered a process in late August that could lead to the reinstatement of sanctions against Iran. The 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers outlined a gradual lifting of sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear programme.

The legal framework allows any party to demand the return of sanctions if it believes commitments are not being fulfilled. The deal was undermined in 2018 after the United States withdrew and reinstated unilateral punitive measures. Iran subsequently reduced its cooperation with the IAEA and increased its uranium enrichment levels.

Enrichment levels under close scrutiny

The IAEA has confirmed that Iran is currently enriching uranium up to 60%, a technical threshold near the 90% required for weapons-grade material. This level remains significantly above the limits set by the 2015 agreement.

In late August, inspectors were briefly allowed access to the Bushehr nuclear plant to replace fuel, but were not granted access to facilities targeted in the June strikes. The full extent of the damage remains undisclosed.

The Environmental Authority criticises the lack of key data on health risks, chemical discharges and construction safety for EDF's two upcoming EPR2 reactors in Seine-Maritime.
Brazil and China have concluded a three-year agreement to secure access to essential radioisotopes for the medical, industrial and scientific sectors, with no financial exchange between the parties.
US-based developer Last Energy will deploy its first domestic microreactor at Texas A&M-RELLIS, marking a strategic step in the advanced modular reactor race.
PGE acquires ZE PAK's stake in the joint venture responsible for developing Poland’s second nuclear site, consolidating a strategic asset within its energy portfolio.
Amazon unveils new visuals of its upcoming nuclear site, marking a key step in its partnership with X-energy to deploy up to 960 MW of modular nuclear capacity in Washington state.
Canadian uranium producer NexGen Energy has completed a A$1bn ($639mn) equity raise split between North American and Australian markets to support the development of its Rook I project.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings is examining the permanent closure of units 1 and 2 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the oldest at the site, while continuing efforts to restart unit 6.
The formal expiration of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran comes as international sanctions have already been reinstated and diplomatic negotiations remain stalled.
Oklo, newcleo and Blykalla partner to develop advanced nuclear fuel infrastructure in the United States, backed by a planned $2bn investment.
enCore Energy has identified three new uranium roll fronts at its Alta Mesa project, with ongoing drilling aimed at defining their extent and accelerating development work.
California-based Radiant will build its first microreactor production facility in Oak Ridge, on a former Manhattan Project site, with production targeted at 50 units per year by 2028.
EDF restarted the Flamanville EPR reactor after repairing non-compliant valves, delaying the target of reaching full power output of 1,620 MW until the end of autumn.
Nano Nuclear and the University of Illinois will begin drilling operations for the KRONOS MMR™ reactor on October 24, marking a key step toward commercialisation of the nuclear project on the Urbana-Champaign campus.
Natura Resources is finalising construction of the MSR-1, an advanced liquid-fuel nuclear reactor, with a planned launch in 2026 on the Abilene Christian University campus.
JPMorganChase commits $10bn in direct investments as part of a $1.5tn plan to boost energy independence and strategic technologies, including next-generation nuclear power.
A roadmap under development aims to establish regulatory and technical foundations for the deployment of small modular reactors, with the goal of strengthening national energy security and attracting private capital.
EDF adjusts its 2025 nuclear production forecast to between 365 and 375 TWh, supported by the performance of its industrial programme START 2025 focused on maintenance efficiency.
The United Nations nuclear agency is urging Ukraine and Russia to establish a local ceasefire to repair damaged power lines at the Zaporizhzhia plant, which remains on alert after losing all external power supply.
Deep Isolation is calling on First Mover States to incorporate radioactive waste management into their joint strategy to ensure the industrial viability of new nuclear reactors.
Canada’s nuclear regulator has approved the launch of a new building that will store used steam generators from Bruce Power's refurbishment programme.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.