Iran Rejects IAEA Access to Damaged Nuclear Facilities, Deputy FM Kazem Gharibabadi Says

Iran rejected claims that it had agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of its damaged nuclear facilities, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying that despite a request from IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, “no meeting was held with him in Switzerland.”

“Iran says no new commitments on nuclear sites after Vance says inspectors to be invited back Iran has denied a claim by Vice-President JD Vance that it will allow nuclear inspectors back into the country, after the first round of talks between Washington and Tehran to reach a final deal to end the war”

BBC

Gharibabadi also said there is “no plan in place to grant the agency access to the attacked facilities or nuclear materials,” and he criticized U.S. officials including Donald Trump and JD Vance for promoting what he called media-driven narratives.

BBC

Rafael Grossi, speaking in Japan, said the process of resuming inspections at Iran’s nuclear facilities is under review, while Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said “no protocol has been defined” for any inspection access.

The dispute has become a central source of tension between Tehran and Washington after the conclusion of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel and subsequent U.S. strikes on certain nuclear sites, according to IranWire’s account.

The BBC reported that Iran denied a claim by Vice-President JD Vance that it will allow nuclear inspectors back into the country, after first-round talks between Washington and Tehran to reach a final deal to end the war.

The BBC said Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state media that Tehran had made “no new commitments” on nuclear inspections, while U.S. President Donald Trump posted that Iran had “fully and completely agreed” to inspections.

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In a separate account, IranWire said Gharibabadi emphasized, “You cannot advance a ‘fait accompli’ policy through media hype,” after Grossi announced hours earlier that resuming inspections is under review.

Shafaq News likewise said Baqaei dismissed reports of a meeting with Rafael Grossi and stressed that Tehran would continue implementing its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, describing “the current process is very clear.”

The BBC said mediators Qatar and Pakistan issued a joint statement after the first round of talks in Switzerland’s Bürgenstock, saying the US and Iran agreed on “a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days.”

“Iran refuses UN inspectors access to bombed nuclear facilities Iran said Tuesday that UN nuclear inspectors would not be allowed to visit key nuclear sites damaged in last year's US-Israeli strikes, contradicting claims by senior US officials, as diplomatic efforts to secure a broader peace agreement and nuclear deal accelerated”

France 24

The BBC also reported that the US Treasury issued a 60-day sanctions waiver authorising the production, sale and delivery of Iranian crude and petrochemicals until 21 August, and that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tehran committed to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and allowing IAEA inspectors back into the country.

In parallel, France 24 said Iran denied the claim by Vance that Tehran had agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back, quoting foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei: “We have not had a meeting with the director general of the IAEA, nor do we have any plans for the agency to inspect Iran's nuclear facilities.”

France 24 added that as diplomacy accelerated, Iran’s UN ambassador Ali Bahreini told reporters “there hasn't been such a decision” to accept IAEA inspectors, keeping the inspection dispute tied to the broader push for a peace agreement and nuclear deal.