ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami confirmed on Wednesday that Tehran is willing to allow American inspectors to examine its nuclear facilities through the United Nations nuclear watchdog, should a nuclear deal be reached.
His remarks come after senior advisors to Iran’s foreign ministry earlier this month dismissed reports suggesting that American inspectors could be granted access outside the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Responding to a question from reporters in Tehran, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Eslami, confirmed that “if matters are raised and a [nuclear] agreement is reached, and Iran's demands are taken into account, then we will reconsider accepting American inspectors through the IAEA.”
He indicated that the change of heart comes despite Iran generally avoiding accepting inspectors from “countries that have been hostile and acted improperly over the years” - a veiled reference to the United States. The same approach is applied reciprocally, Eslami explained, noting, “They do not accept Iranian inspectors either.”
Eslami’s remarks follow statements by Mohammad Hossein Ranjbaran, an advisor to the Iranian foreign minister, who in early May rejected Western media reports on the matter as “false.”
“It is entirely clear that inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities are the exclusive responsibility of IAEA inspectors and are strictly conducted within the framework of international legal regulations and standards,” Ranjbaran said in a statement on X.
The Western media reports had been triggered by comments made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated in early May that Iran must completely halt uranium enrichment and allow American inspectors full access to its nuclear facilities.
"If you're not building a bomb, you shouldn't be afraid of inspections - including by Americans," Rubio said, adding that “if Iran wants peaceful nuclear energy, it should import fuel like dozens of other countries do.”
"There's no reason for enrichment unless you want a weapon."
Although Tehran appears to be showing some flexibility with regards to allowing American inspectors, via the IAEA, to examine its nuclear sites, Iranian officials have made clear that uranium enrichment remains non-negotiable.
On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed that his country would “not make the slightest concession” regarding uranium enrichment, which presents “an integral part of Iran's peaceful nuclear energy and nuclear industry” that “must be maintained.”
On the same day, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei noted that nuclear negotiations must be “based on goodwill,” warning that any attempts to deny Iran its legitimate nuclear rights would undermine the talks.
Indirect, Oman-mediated talks between Tehran and Washington resumed on April 12, with the fifth and most recent round held on May 23. A sixth round is anticipated in the coming weeks.
The revived talks mark the most substantial engagement between the two sides since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal - formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - under which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
The agreement unraveled in 2018, when US President Donald Trump, during his first term in office, withdrew the US from the agreement and reimposed sweeping sanctions on Iran. In response, Tehran gradually scaled back its compliance with the deal.
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