International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi on Monday urged Iran to immediately implement the agreement it signed with the UN watchdog last week to resume inspections at the country’s bombed nuclear sites.
"It is now time to implement the agreement ... A return of IAEA inspectors and the resumption of safeguards implementation in Iran would serve as a good sign that agreements and understandings are possible," Grossi said at the IAEA General Conference in Vienna on Monday.
Grossi's remarks come a week after Iran and the IAEA signed a new agreement in Cairo on the practical modalities to resume inspection activities in Iran. He described the new arrangement as a framework to resume technical work and rebuild trust.
“Now it’s up to us together, Iran and the agency to implement it, restore confidence, and move forward,” he said.
The deal appeared to break an impasse between the UN nuclear watchdog and Tehran after the latter refused to let inspectors resume their work following surprise US and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites in June.
But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared to swiftly add a note of caution following its inking, saying details and restored relations must yet be explored.
Peace in peril
Grossi said that when the agency can fully carry out its mandate and answer all outstanding questions, “there will be no doubt and peace is guaranteed.”
“When that ability is compromised or limited, or when we cannot do what we are supposed to do, then international peace and security are indeed at risk,” Grossi added.
Grossi warned that history had shown the dangers of restricting the agency’s work, saying, “We have seen this throughout history, particularly though not only in the Middle East, and dramatically last June in Iran."
Israel launched a surprise military campaign on June 13 targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, including senior commanders and nuclear officials in a conflict that lasted 12 days.
On June 22, the United States joined the campaign, striking nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Washington brokered a ceasefire on June 24.
In response, Iran’s parliament passed legislation suspending all cooperation with the IAEA, but international pressure has grown for Tehran to restore ties with the agency.
Last month, France, Germany and the United Kingdom triggered the UN snapback sanctions mechanism, leaving a 30-day window for diplomacy before sanctions are due to take effect on October 18.
One of the demands of the three European countries is the immediate resumption of full work between Iran and IAEA.
However, ultraconservative lawmaker Hamid Rasaee said Sunday that the deal with the IAEA contains no clause preventing the reimposition of UN sanctions on Tehran under the snapback mechanism.
On June 14, one day after Israel's surprise attacks, a small meeting of security cabinet ministers heard Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say that war goals included eliminating Khamenei.
Others included striking the Fordow nuclear facility, to set fuel depots in Tehran on fire, and work toward killing officials who had replaced assassinated officials targeted in the overnight attacks sparking the 12-day war.
The goal to target the supreme leader was echoed among Netanyahu's government, with controversial right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich telling ministers that Israel must “keep searching for the leader".
At the end of June, Israel Katz, Israel's defense minister, told Hebrew media that the military had hoped to assassinate Iran’s supreme leader.
“If he had been in our sights, we would have taken him out,” he told Channel 13, adding that Israel “searched a lot” for Khamenei but that the operational opportunity did not appear during the bloody conflict that saw over 1,100 Iranians killed and thousands more injured.
The transcripts, set to be broadcast in full Tuesday with an accompanying Netanyahu interview, also detail Israeli hopes that US President Donald Trump would order strikes on Iran’s fortified Fordow nuclear facility, which was indeed later bombed by the US along with Natanz and Isfahan.
‘A historic moment’
According to the newly revealed information, on the eve of the war, Netanyahu argued Iran was “getting close to being the second-biggest powerhouse on ballistic missiles” and said Israel’s opening attack on June 13 could reshape later negotiations.
At the June 12 bunker meeting, he said that Iran already had enough enriched material for “eight to nine bombs” and was advancing on weaponization. “If we don’t act, we simply won’t be here,” he said.
The plan called for destroying the Natanz nuclear facility, targeting nuclear scientists, and striking conversion sites that could turn enriched uranium into bomb cores.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir praised the opening strikes on June 13 as “extraordinary achievements” and said Iran had responded with fewer missile launches than expected.
US support critical to target Fordow
Transcripts reveal an unnamed official cautioning that Fordow could be destroyed “only if the US attacks it,” given the site’s depth under mountainous terrain requiring the specialist bunker-busting bombers that only the US had.
During a call with US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu “pushed and maneuvered” for American refueling planes to support Israeli attacks and a potential strike on Fordow, the transcripts reveal.
Katz said US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told him refueling support was being prepared.
The transcripts also show Netanyahu's right-wing ministers pressing for tougher action on Iran. Katz argued for targeting Iran’s state broadcaster and secret police, while Shas party leader Aryeh Deri urged killing officers replacing those already struck.
Iran eventually fired over 500 ballistic missiles and 1,100 drones, killing 31 in Israel and wounding more than 3,000. More than 13,000 Israelis were displaced after homes, universities and a hospital were struck.
Channel 13 said its full feature Tuesday will include further transcripts, including pressure on Trump to bomb Fordow and information about Iran’s strike on Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.
