Iran has announced a ban on Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), from accessing its nuclear facilities. This decision comes amid claims that the Israeli government has acquired sensitive data regarding these facilities. The announcement was made by Hamid Reza Haji Babaei, the vice speaker of the Iranian parliament, during a funeral for military officials and nuclear scientists recently killed in Israeli strikes.
The move follows a period of heightened tensions marked by a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, during which Israel targeted Iranian nuclear sites with drone and air strikes, aiming to thwart Iran's potential development of nuclear weapons. In response, Iran conducted counterattacks on Israeli cities. A ceasefire has since been established between the two nations.
Historically, Iran had permitted the IAEA to inspect its nuclear sites and utilize advanced surveillance technology as part of the 2015 nuclear agreement, which involved multiple world powers including France, Russia, the U.K., the U.S., Germany, and the European Union. This accord was designed to regulate Iran's nuclear program. However, the situation shifted significantly after the Trump administration withdrew from the agreement in 2018.
Earlier negotiations had seen Iran threaten to remove surveillance cameras from its nuclear sites, indicating a potential shift in its commitments under the nuclear deal. The recent decision to bar the IAEA chief and dismantle surveillance measures signals a further departure from the transparency previously agreed upon, raising concerns about the future of Iran's nuclear program and international oversight.