The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that its inspectors will travel to Tehran next week for talks with Iranian officials, marking the first such visit in months. The development comes as the United Kingdom’s proposal for a successor agreement to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) continues to attract international support.
The IAEA inspection team, led by Deputy Director General Massimo Aparo, is expected to discuss access to sites where undeclared nuclear activities may have occurred. Iran has previously restricted IAEA monitoring, including the removal of surveillance cameras at nuclear facilities. The visit is seen as a test of Iran’s willingness to cooperate after years of stalled diplomacy.
Simultaneously, the UK’s plan for a new accord has gained momentum among European capitals and Gulf states. The proposal, which builds on the JCPOA but addresses its shortcomings, includes stricter limits on uranium enrichment, a longer duration, and provisions for ballistic missiles and regional security. A British diplomat described the plan as “a credible path forward” that could bridge the gap between the United States and Iran.
The original JCPOA, signed between Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China, plus Germany), began unravelling after the US withdrawal in 2018 under President Donald Trump. Iran subsequently expanded its nuclear programme, enriching uranium to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade. Talks to revive the deal have stalled since 2022.
European sources indicate that the UK’s proposal has been circulated informally and received positive feedback from France, Germany, and several Gulf Cooperation Council members. Russia and China, however, remain cautious, viewing the initiative as a potential Western effort to exclude them. Iran has yet to officially respond but has signalled openness to “new frameworks”.
The IAEA visit and the UK plan represent the most significant diplomatic moves on Iran’s nuclear programme in over a year. Analysts caution that while the inspection may provide temporary relief, a comprehensive agreement remains elusive given Iran’s strategic alignment with Russia and its ongoing enrichment activities. The UK government is expected to table its proposal at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
