The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, demanding an agreement by the end of the week to resume comprehensive inspections of its nuclear facilities. The UN’s nuclear watchdog has declared that ongoing consultations cannot be allowed to drag on for months, signaling a critical juncture in the tense standoff over Tehran’s atomic ambitions.
The urgency is fueled by a new, confidential IAEA report which reveals that just before a full-scale, 12-day war with Israel that began on June 13, Iran possessed a larger stockpile of highly enriched uranium than previously known. International inspectors are now in a race against time to clarify the fate of this material following the conflict, which reportedly involved both Israeli and US forces.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “This cannot go on for months.” He voiced grave concern that unaccounted-for nuclear material might still be at Iranian facilities that were bombed during the recent war. “It needs to be verified. Some could have been lost,” he stressed, highlighting the critical need for immediate access.
The IAEA report formally notes the absence of a sustainable agreement for regular inspections and expresses “deep regret” over Tehran’s decision to halt cooperation. For over two and a half months, inspectors have been denied access, leaving the international community largely in the dark about the current state of Iran’s nuclear capabilities post-conflict, a situation the agency labels “a matter of serious concern.”
According to the report, on the eve of the conflict—dubbed “Operation The People as a Lion” by Israel—Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity had grown to approximately 440.9 kilograms. This quantity, a short technical step from the 90% weapons-grade level, is theoretically enough to produce fissile material for up to ten nuclear bombs.
In response, Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), blamed the IAEA’s leadership, claiming its governance system is “under the influence of a hegemonic order.” While blasting the agency’s director, Eslami did confirm that Tehran recently granted limited, one-off access for two inspectors to oversee a fuel replacement process at the Russian-built Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.
Meanwhile, signs are emerging that Iran may be bracing for another round of armed confrontation. Recent satellite images of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, analyzed by the US-based Institute for Science and International Security, show that at least 24 cooling towers have been moved and dispersed across the site. This is seen as a clear attempt to make critical infrastructure less vulnerable to future airstrikes.
While Tehran remains officially silent on the current location of its highly enriched uranium, Western analysts fear a portion may have been secretly moved to undeclared facilities. Such a scenario not only obstructs verification efforts but also dramatically increases the risk of another full-scale military conflict, pushing the region closer to a dangerous precipice.