Iran Says IAEA Official to Visit for Technical Talks

Reuters

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) logo and Iranian flag.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday, 11 August 2025, that upcoming discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be “technical” and “complicated”, ahead of the nuclear watchdog’s first visit since Tehran cut ties with the organisation last month.

The IAEA has not issued an immediate statement regarding the visit by its deputy chief, which is not expected to include access to Iranian nuclear sites.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said there may be a meeting with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but cautioned: “It is a bit soon to predict the outcome, since these are technical talks — complicated talks.”

The two sides' relations deteriorated sharply following a 12-day air war waged by Israel and the United States in June, during which key Iranian nuclear facilities were bombed. On 12 June, the IAEA Board of Governors ruled that Iran had breached its non-proliferation obligations — a day before Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory triggered the conflict.

On 3 July, President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the suspension of cooperation with the IAEA after U.S. strikes destroyed three major nuclear sites during the air war with Israel, killing nearly 1,100 people, including several senior military commanders. Iranian retaliatory strikes killed 28 people in Israel.

Iran has previously limited IAEA inspections as a means of applying pressure in negotiations with the West, and it remains unclear when — or if — nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington will resume.

According to U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA, Iran last had an organised nuclear weapons programme in 2003. However, Tehran has been enriching uranium to 60% purity — just a short technical step away from the 90% required for weapons-grade material.



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