Iran has reopened its Bushehr nuclear plant to international inspectors, marking the first visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since Tehran suspended cooperation last month.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed inspectors are overseeing fuel replacement at Bushehr, though access to other key sites, including Fordo and Natanz, remains off the table for now.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is exploring a “new form” of cooperation with the agency but stressed that no final framework has been agreed.
Why Cooperation Was Halted
Iran froze IAEA access in June after Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear and military facilities killed hundreds. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel before a ceasefire was reached on June 24.
Since then, Iran has allowed only partial oversight, insisting that future access will depend on approval from its Supreme National Security Council.
Diplomatic Pressure
Talks in Geneva this week brought together Iranian envoys and diplomats from Britain, France, and Germany to discuss nuclear monitoring and the risk of renewed UN sanctions. The so-called “snapback mechanism” of the 2015 nuclear deal could be triggered by October 18, reinstating global sanctions — a move Iran rejects.
Meanwhile, Russia has circulated a draft UN resolution seeking a six-month extension to the snapback deadline, describing it as vital “breathing space for diplomacy.”
For now, the return of IAEA inspectors signals a cautious thaw, but Tehran’s promise of a “new form” of engagement leaves major questions unanswered — particularly over the future of its nuclear program and the fate of sanctions relief.
