Iran Permits Return of U.N. Nuclear Inspectors Following Recent Suspension

The United Nations’ nuclear monitoring body has dispatched its first team of inspectors to Iran since the country suspended its cooperation last month, signaling a potential resumption of independent oversight over Tehran’s nuclear activities.

On Wednesday, Iranian officials confirmed that representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were on the ground. This visit followed diplomatic discussions the previous day between Iranian diplomats and their counterparts from Britain, France, and Germany, focusing on reviving negotiations concerning Iran’s uranium enrichment limits.

The European nations involved have warned that, absent progress toward renegotiating the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement—which restricted Iran’s uranium enrichment—they will reinstate comprehensive sanctions on Iran by the end of August. The agreement is set to expire on October 18.

Tensions have escalated between Iran, the IAEA, and Western governments following a 12-day conflict initiated by Israel in June targeting Iranian interests. U.S. forces later joined the Israeli campaign, which inflicted damage on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Both Israel and the United States stated the operations aimed to diminish the risk of Iran developing nuclear weapons.

Following the conflict, Iran halted its cooperation with the U.N. watchdog. This breakdown came amid already strained relations, as the IAEA had declared in June that Iran was failing to meet its nuclear nonproliferation commitments.

Iran maintains that its nuclear program serves solely peaceful purposes. Although the IAEA has found no direct evidence of weapon development, it reported that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium—approximately 882 pounds—exceeds the levels necessary for civilian nuclear energy.