Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is travelling to Tehran for talks with Iranian officials, the IAEA confirmed on Tuesday. The visit comes as British diplomats press for unrestricted access to all nuclear sites as part of any agreement that would lift sanctions imposed during the current conflict.
Grossi’s itinerary includes meetings with the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami, and other senior figures. The IAEA said the discussions would focus on “outstanding safeguards issues” and the agency’s ability to verify Iran’s nuclear activities.
Britain’s foreign secretary, David Lammy, speaking in London, said that any ceasefire or peace deal must include “full, unfettered access for IAEA inspectors to all facilities, including military sites where we have reason to believe undeclared nuclear material may be present”. He added that without such provisions, sanctions relief would be “neither prudent nor possible”.
The demand reflects a hardening of the British position after intelligence reports suggested that Iran had accelerated enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade at an underground facility near Isfahan. Western diplomats say that site inspections have been consistently blocked since early 2023.
Iran has insisted that its nuclear programme is peaceful and has accused the IAEA of acting on “fabricated intelligence” provided by Israel and the United States. Tehran has indicated a willingness to allow inspections of declared sites but has refused broader access, citing national security concerns.
The timing of Grossi’s visit is critical. The UN Security Council is scheduled to debate the extension of an arms embargo on Iran next month, and several European capitals are linking their votes to progress on nuclear transparency. France and Germany have privately expressed support for the British position, diplomats say.
In Tehran, political analysts view the British demand as a “poison pill” designed to derail negotiations. “They are asking for what they know Iran cannot accept,” said a former Iranian diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity. “This is about regime change, not verification.”
Grossi has previously warned that the IAEA’s ability to reconstruct a “complete picture” of Iran’s nuclear work has deteriorated. His last report to the board of governors, in September, noted that inspectors had been unable to verify the location of centrifuge components and enrichment equipment.
The IAEA chief is expected to hold a press conference in Vienna upon his return, likely on Friday. Any agreement reached in Tehran would need to be approved by the IAEA board and then incorporated into the broader diplomatic framework being brokered by Oman and Russia.
For now, the British demand for full access stands as a key obstacle. Whether Grossi can bridge the gap between Iranian security concerns and Western verification requirements will determine whether the war deal can proceed."
