By R Anil Kumar
Bengaluru, June 18, 2026. The head of the UN-affiliated atomic energy agency, on Thursday, June 18, welcomed the signing of an initial Iran-US memorandum aimed at ending the war, before proposing “to sit down” with both parties to assist with concrete measures such as verification of Iran’s nuclear programme, a key sticking point.
“We believe the fact that the indispensable role of the IAEA is recognized is a sound point of departure,” said Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in reference to the reported text of the memorandum. “Now it’s for us to sit down with our American colleagues, our Iranian colleagues and start formulating the concrete steps that will have to be taken. So, I think it’s good that the memorandum is there. Now the technical work starts.”
According to media reports, the memorandum of understanding provides for a maximum of 60 days of negotiations to achieve a “final deal” on issues including uranium enrichment by Iran which must also reaffirm that it does not intend to develop a nuclear weapon.
Other requirements listed in the memorandum’s text include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping and an easing of US and UN Security Council sanctions on the Middle East nation.
The “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon” also features prominently in the first of 14 points of the memorandum.
Good faith talks
Speaking at the UN in Geneva, Mr. Grossi refused to speculate about spoilers “because we are about to start and we have to initiate any negotiation on the assumption that we are all in with faith, that we want to be successful”.
Responding to a question about a possible agreed reduction in the level of uranium enrichment by Iran, the IAEA chief noted that “many, many possibilities” could be explored.
“There are many different alternatives…There are different ranges of enrichment in the current Iranian inventory and we will see what is agreed.”
The agency’s access to all of Iran’s nuclear facilities is “not at a level and in all the locations it should be”, he stressed, but contact with the authorities is ongoing and the agency has “a pretty good idea” of the “specific things, places, that we need to access”.
Mr Grossi added: “It’s now, I’d say, that the technical work can start for real.”
The IAEA was established in 1957 to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It is an autonomous part of the United Nations system – meaning that it is not under the direct control of the UN Secretariat – but instead reports to the UN General Assembly and Security Council.
The agency is based in Vienna and has 180 member countries; it is mandated to monitor nuclear facilities objectively, report on nuclear activities, oversee safety, promote peace through diplomacy and the use of nuclear technologies for good.
Monitoring Iran and Promoting Peaceful use of Nuclear Energy-The IAEA’S Role Explained
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) dates back to 1957 and was set up in response to global fears following the first use of nuclear and atomic weapons and alarm over the advent and spread of nuclear technology. An autonomous part of the United Nations system, it works on issues as varied as food safety, cancer control and sustainable development – and also on promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Another principal responsibility, perhaps less well understood, is the agency’s framework of nuclear ‘safeguards’ agreements. These agreements are voluntarily entered into by countries and are key to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons by independently verifying whether countries are meeting their non-proliferation commitments. As of 2024, some 182 countries have safeguards agreements with the IAEA.
“Iran has repeatedly either not answered” IAEA requests “or not provided technically credible answers,” Mr. Grossi told the 35-nation board. Additionally, he said, Iran has sought to “sanitise the locations,” which the agency has now concluded were part of a “structured” nuclear programme in the early 2000s.
“Unless and until Iran assists the agency in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues, the Agency will not be in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful,” he said.
Mr. Grossi expressed alarm at the rapid accumulation of over 400 kilogrammes of highly enriched uranium, which has serious implications (highly enriched uranium is one of the necessary components for the creation of a nuclear bomb).
The statement to the board underlined the significant role the IAEA plays in Iran, which can be broken down into four main areas.
- Monitoring
The agency uses safeguard agreements under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a key international accord designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The vast majority of safeguards agreements are those that have been concluded by the IAEA with non-nuclear-weapon States. However, safeguards are implemented in three States that are not party to the NPT – India, Pakistan and Israel – on the basis of item-specific agreements they have concluded with the IAEA.
As a non-nuclear armed signatory to the treaty, Iran is banned from acquiring nuclear weapons and is required to allow the IAEA to inspect and verify all nuclear materials and activities, including at short notice, if asked.
The agency regularly inspects Iran’s nuclear facilities, including sites like Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. The aim is to ensure that nuclear materials are only used for peaceful means and are not diverted for weapons use.
On 9 June, last year, Mr. Grossi noted that man-made uranium particles had been found at three more, undeclared sites (Varamin, Marivan and Turquzabad). Iran, he said, had failed to provide “technically credible explanations” for the presence of the particles, despite years of consultations.
- Reporting
The agency regularly reports to its Board of Governors on the nuclear activities of Iran (and other countries), using methods such as inspections, monitoring equipment, environmental sampling, and satellite imagery to gather data and prepare technical reports. In the case of countries under special scrutiny – such as Iran – these reports are typically issued every quarter.
If Iran – or any non-nuclear weapon country party to the NPT – fails to comply with the IAEA’s requirements (for example, by limiting access or not explaining the presence of uranium particles), the agency can report Iran to the UN Security Council, which may lead to diplomatic pressure, sanctions or calls for further negotiations.
- Diplomatic engagement
The IAEA frequently calls for diplomatic solutions and emphasises the importance of dialogue to resolve concerns about Iran’s nuclear intentions. Director General Grossi has engaged directly with Iranian authorities and international stakeholders to maintain communication and transparency.
Addressing the Security Council, Mr. Grossi said that his agency was in constant contact with the Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority to assess the status of affected facilities and determine broader impacts on nuclear safety and security.
- Safety and security oversight
This is a critical part of the IAEA’s broader mission to prevent nuclear accidents, ensure that nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes, and protect people and the environment.
The IAEA works with the Iranian authorities to ensure that nuclear facilities like Natanz, Fordow, and Esfahan operate safely, by assessing the design and operation of the facilities, monitoring radiation protection measures, and evaluating emergency preparedness.
