IAEA demands ‘strong verification’ of Iran’s nuclear programme
Key takeaways
- Watchdog’s call for ‘strong system’ comes as US and Iran issue conflicting claims over ceasefire negotiations.
- The US and its Western allies have for years warned that Tehran’s nuclear programme may be aimed at developing the capacity to build a weapon.
- “The government of Iran has affirmed quite clearly that [developing nuclear weapons] is not their intention, but of course intentions are not enough,” Grossi told reporters on Friday.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Watchdog’s call for ‘strong system’ comes as US and Iran issue conflicting claims over ceasefire negotiations.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), speaks during a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on June 26, 2026 [Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP]By Christine Maguire Published On 26 Jun 202626 Jun 2026The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has asserted that a “very strong system of verification” must by put in place to monitor Iran’s nuclear programme.
Director General Rafael Grossi called on Friday for the nuclear watchdog to be given full access, noting that ensuring Iran is not able to develop nuclear weapons is the key objective of the preliminary ceasefire agreement with the United States.