The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has suspended its inspection activities in Iran, citing safety concerns for its personnel. The decision, reported by The Wall Street Journal, comes amid escalating tensions following a series of military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and Tehran’s formal withdrawal from cooperation with the agency.
Earlier this week, Iran’s parliament passed a law suspending collaboration with the IAEA, which was swiftly signed by President Masoud Pezeshkian. Under the new legislation, IAEA inspectors are now barred from accessing nuclear sites unless granted special approval by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council—effectively ending routine international oversight.
According to IAEA assessments, Iran currently possesses over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium—enough for at least nine to ten nuclear warheads if further processed. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi previously warned that Iran could reach weapons-grade enrichment levels within months if unchecked. With inspections now on hold, the international community has lost direct visibility into the status and pace of Iran’s nuclear activities.
In June, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on several Iranian nuclear sites, including Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. These attacks reportedly delayed Iran’s nuclear program by one to two years. However, without independent monitoring, experts fear Iran could quickly rebuild its capabilities.
The G7 nations have voiced alarm over the situation, calling on Iran to immediately restore access to IAEA inspectors. Western officials have also raised the possibility of reactivating the “snapback” mechanism, which would reinstate United Nations sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.
With inspections suspended and political tensions mounting, the risk of rapid nuclear escalation in Iran is growing. The lack of transparency not only undermines nonproliferation efforts but also fuels concerns that Tehran may pursue nuclear weapons capability—or at least leverage that perception in future negotiations.
