On July 4, 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced its inspectors had left Iran following a law enacted by Iran’s president on July 2 that halts cooperation with the agency. This decision comes after recent military conflict with Israel and U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. Tensions between Iran and the IAEA escalated after the agency reported Iran was not complying with nuclear nonproliferation rules. Iran claimed the report justified Israeli attacks. While President Trump asserted the strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, IAEA officials, including director general Grossi, indicated that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains unaccounted for. Iran claims its nuclear program is peaceful, but the IAEA noted in May that Iran had amassed around 882 pounds of highly enriched uranium—enough to potentially produce several nuclear weapons, despite no direct evidence of weapon construction. Iran has expressed willingness to resume cooperation with the IAEA, conditional on ensuring the safety of its nuclear infrastructure and recognition of its right to enrich uranium.
Giorgio Lo Conte
