Iran denounces 'political pressure' from UN nuclear watchdog

Iran on Saturday denounced a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency as a "tool of political pressure," after the UN nuclear watchdog expressed concern over its lack of access to Iranian nuclear sites.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi accused the IAEA of applying pressure on Iran while failing to condemn the U.S.-Israeli strikes that damaged those very sites.

What did Iran say about the IAEA report?

"If the agency wants to be part of a diplomatic solution, it must refrain from turning a technical report into a tool of political pressure," Gharibabadi wrote on X.

He argued that one "cannot bomb safeguarded facilities, destroy the access and safety necessary for inspections, and then use the consequences of that very attack as a grievance against Iran."

In a confidential report seen by AFP on Thursday, the IAEA said the lack of access to nuclear sites in Iran constitutes a "proliferation concern" and called for verification activities to resume "without delay."

The IAEA has not condemned the Israeli-American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

What happened to Iran's nuclear sites during the conflict?

Iranian nuclear sites were bombed repeatedly during both the June 2025 Israeli strikes and the U.S.-Israeli war that began Feb. 28. In June 2025, the U.S. bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, which Trump said made it possible to "annihilate" the country's nuclear program.

The exact extent of the damage remains unknown. Before those strikes, the IAEA calculated that Iran held approximately 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.

Since June 2025, the fate of that stockpile, last seen by IAEA inspectors on June 10, 2025, has remained uncertain.

What is Iran's position on its nuclear program and IAEA access?

Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful and denies seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, a claim disputed by the U.S., Israel and Western countries.

Tehran cites security concerns to justify refusing IAEA access to the bombed sites. Gharibabadi said the Israeli-American strikes were "not only a violation of Iran's sovereignty" but also "a direct blow to nuclear safety."

The IAEA, in its report, acknowledged that the military attacks had "created an unprecedented situation" but said verification activities remained critical.

What is the broader diplomatic context of the nuclear dispute?

Tehran was engaged in discussions with Washington about its nuclear program when the U.S. and Israel attacked it on Feb. 28, sparking the wider Middle East war.

Israel had also struck Iran in June 2025, similarly, while nuclear negotiations were underway, with the U.S. joining with later strikes before a ceasefire was declared.

Iran's nuclear program has been a central sticking point in U.S.-Iran peace talks, with Washington demanding Tehran surrender its enriched uranium as part of any deal. Iranian officials have said nuclear program talks have been deferred until after an initial peace agreement is reached.