Iran, IAEA Sign Deal to Resume Nuclear Inspections

On September 9, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an agreement in Cairo aimed at restoring cooperation and paving the way for inspections at Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The deal was signed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, with the ceremony hosted by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. Both sides described the agreement as an “important step in the right direction,” though the specific “practical arrangements” have not been made public.

Officially titled "Technical Arrangements for the Conduct of Inspections between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IAEA," the agreement comes after Tehran had halted cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Araghchi emphasized that the deal takes Tehran’s security concerns into account and warned it would be considered “null and void” in the event of any “hostile action” against Iran, including the reimposition of UN sanctions.

The agreement is technical in nature, outlining the requirements and scope for how the IAEA can resume monitoring and inspection activities. Its primary goal is to restore access to Iranian nuclear facilities to verify the country’s nuclear program, which had previously been limited to the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

The deal was reached at a critical moment. In late August 2025, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom began a process to “snap back” UN sanctions against Iran over non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas welcomed the agreement cautiously, noting it “could be a crucial step for nuclear diplomacy, provided there is swift implementation by Iran.”

Iran had suspended cooperation in July 2025 following attacks on its nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States in June.