Tehran says it will press ahead with negotiations with the IAEA even after devastating Israeli-American airstrikes crippled its nuclear facilities, underscoring defiance in the wake of censure and inspection blockades.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that it will continue negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), even after its nuclear sites were heavily damaged in a joint Israeli-American bombing campaign during June’s 12-day war.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state media that another round of discussions with the UN’s nuclear watchdog is expected in the coming days.
Inspections Blocked Since Strikes
IAEA inspectors have had no access to Iranian nuclear facilities since the June conflict, when U.S. and Israeli forces struck and destroyed key sites. This remains a major source of tension, despite IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stressing that inspections are his “top priority.”
Iran claims that an IAEA board resolution—censuring Tehran for breaching non-proliferation obligations—paved the way for the strikes.
Defiance Amid Setback
“We had talks (with the IAEA) last week. These talks will continue and there will be another round of talks… probably in the coming days,” Baghaei said, presenting an air of business as usual despite Iran’s military and diplomatic setbacks.
The IAEA resolution followed a damning report showing a sharp rise in Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%—a level perilously close to weapons-grade material.
Iran has rejected the report outright, accusing the agency of relying on “unreliable and misleading information” allegedly provided by Israel.
The Bigger Picture
With its nuclear infrastructure battered, international pressure mounting, and inspections blocked, Iran faces a narrowing path: engage in diplomacy under duress, or escalate its defiance against both Western powers and the IAEA.
