UN nuclear watchdog urges Iran to take 'steps' towards inspections

The UN's nuclear watchdog urged Iran to take "incremental steps" to allow inspectors to return to key nuclear facilities in the Islamic republic, adding such access was "critical" in a report seen by AFP on Friday (Novemeber 13, 2026).

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not had access to key nuclear facilities in Iran since Israel, joined by the United States, launched a 12-day conflict in June 2025 that included strikes on nuclear sites.

Nuclear facilities have also been hit in the latest war, which erupted on February 28, and the IAEA has repeatedly called for access. In its report, the agency said that it was "critical" for it to conduct "verification activities in Iran without further delay".

The IAEA "acknowledged that the military attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and sites created an unprecedented situation". But because of a lack of cooperation "the agency is not able to conclude that there has been no diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful nuclear activities in Iran", the report said, raising "serious proliferation concern" that "needs to be rectified with the utmost urgency".

The IAEA board in September referred Iran to the UN Security Council, marking the first time Iran has been referred to the UN top body in 20 years for failing to comply with its nuclear reporting obligations. Before the June 2025 strikes, the IAEA calculated that Iran possessed approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, nearing the 90% needed to make a bomb and well above the 3.67% limit set by a now-defunct 2015 agreement with Iran.

Since June 2025, the fate Iran's nuclear stockpile has remained uncertain. Iran has long denied striving to develop a nuclear bomb. IAEA head Rafael Grossi said in June that the "widespread impression" was that the stockpile remains where it was before June 2025 near to the Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant (IFEP).

In its report, the agency said it was "increasingly concerned" about a lack of information and access to the plant. "The agency does not know IFEP's exact location, status for safeguards purposes, or whether it contains nuclear material," it said.

IAEA inspectors were able to visit Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant in September, but have had no access to other key facilities. The report detailed correspondence in recent weeks between the IAEA and Iran. In a letter on Thursday (November 12), the IAEA told Iran it would "protect....

all confidential information" after Tehran informed the agency about the United States' $20 million reward for information on its nuclear programme. Iran on Wednesday (November 11) hit out at the reward announced by the U.S.

military last week and urged the IAEA and the UN Security Council to condemn it.