In June, Israeli and American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities led Tehran to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Inspectors left the country, and access to sites became possible only with the approval of the Supreme National Security Council. Against the backdrop of escalating conflict and renewed discussions of sanctions by European powers, Iran insisted its nuclear program was purely peaceful. The agreement signed in Cairo with the IAEA marks the first attempt to return to dialogue since those events.
On Tuesday, Iran agreed with the International Atomic Energy Agency on a new framework for cooperation after suspending engagement with the organization in June over the war with Israel.
The document was signed in Cairo by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who called it "an important step in the right direction." It was the first meeting of its kind since Iran froze contacts with the agency during the 12-day conflict with Israel, which saw Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Tehran accused the IAEA of failing to properly condemn those attacks and declared that cooperation with the agency would henceforth take "a new form."
"Today we held the final round of talks with the IAEA director general to finalize arrangements for fulfilling Iran’s safeguards commitments in light of events following the illegal attacks on our nuclear facilities," Araghchi said at a joint press conference with Grossi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. He stressed that the framework agreement "fully complies" with the law suspending cooperation with the agency and allows engagement within the limits set by national legislation. "We are defending our rights while maintaining cooperation with the agency within agreed parameters," he added.
After contacts were suspended, inspections in Iran became possible only with the approval of the country’s highest national security authority. Tehran continues to insist that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, while Western governments accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons—an accusation the authorities consistently reject.
Grossi called the signed agreement "a step in the right direction" and added: "We are opening a new door." Abdelatty expressed hope that the arrangement would be "a genuine starting point for new relations with greater transparency on security issues."
During the Cairo visit, the Iranian minister and the IAEA chief also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who described the agreement as "a positive step toward de-escalation."
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According to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the agreement could pave the way "for a return to the negotiating table and a peaceful resolution of Iran’s nuclear program." His office issued the statement.
After cooperation was suspended, IAEA inspectors left Iran, returning only briefly last month to monitor fuel replacement at the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Access to nuclear sites is now possible only with the approval of the Supreme National Security Council. The most recent inspection was denied entry to key facilities, including Fordow and Natanz, which were struck in June.
In August, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany began the process of restoring UN sanctions, citing Iran’s continued noncompliance with the 2015 agreement. Tehran condemned the move as "illegal" and warned that European powers risk being excluded from any future negotiations. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty expressed hope that the new agreement would help "find common ground" with the Europeans.
During his first presidency, Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal and imposed tough sanctions on Iran. A new round of talks with Washington, which began in April, was interrupted after Israel’s June strikes on Iranian facilities.
Since then, Iran has demanded guarantees against possible military action as a condition for resuming dialogue. Last week, National Security Council head Ali Larijani said the country was ready for nuclear talks with the United States but ruled out any restrictions on its missile program.