Iran is refusing to grant inspectors access to key nuclear facilities, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which says it has detected new activity in areas where enriched uranium is believed to be stored.
In a strongly worded statement, the Vienna-based watchdog said Iranian authorities have denied access and withheld critical information about sensitive aspects of the country’s nuclear program since the June 2025 strikes carried out by Israel and the United States on Iranian facilities.
According to the IAEA, satellite imagery and other monitoring tools indicate movements of equipment and materials at sites linked to uranium storage and processing. However, inspectors have been unable to verify the purpose or scope of those activities due to restrictions imposed by Tehran.
The agency stressed that transparency and timely access are essential to ensuring that nuclear material is not diverted for non-peaceful uses. Without on-the-ground inspections, it warned, its ability to provide credible assurances about the exclusively civilian nature of Iran’s nuclear program is significantly diminished.
Iranian officials have not publicly detailed the reasons for the latest restrictions, but tensions have remained high following the reported attacks earlier this year. Tehran has repeatedly accused both Israel and the United States of violating international law, while Western governments argue that Iran’s nuclear advances pose a regional and global security threat.
Diplomatic efforts to revive negotiations have stalled amid mutual distrust and escalating rhetoric. Analysts say the standoff risks deepening concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and further destabilizing an already volatile region.
The IAEA has called on Iran to immediately restore full cooperation, warning that continued obstruction could have serious diplomatic consequences in the months ahead.
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