Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency [Reuters]
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency [Reuters]

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said the agency is prepared to dispatch a nuclear inspection team to Iran immediately upon request.

Speaking to Russia's RIA Novosti on Wednesday (local time), Grossi said the IAEA could resume inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities "tomorrow, if asked."

The remarks signal that the IAEA stands ready to provide technical support as soon as the United States and Iran reach a compromise on nuclear issues in their ongoing end-of-war negotiations.

"It is practically feasible and our team is ready," Grossi said, adding that IAEA experts have already prepared to return to Iran.

"We know exactly where to go and what to do," he said. "This is not just talk — we have the actual capacity to carry it out."

Iran had allowed IAEA inspections under the 2015 nuclear deal.

However, it suspended inspections after the United States struck Iranian nuclear facilities last June. The issue remained unresolved when the two countries signed an end-of-war MOU that same month, with the two sides unable to narrow their differences.

Subsequent exchanges of strikes between the two countries have kept nuclear inspections from resuming.

The IAEA has been pressing Iran for cooperation, referring it to the UN Security Council on Sept. 9 for violating its nuclear non-proliferation obligations — the first such referral in 20 years.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com