Tehran: Iran may consider allowing American inspectors affiliated with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit its nuclear facilities if negotiations with the United States result in a successful agreement, Iranian nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said during a press conference in Tehran on Wednesday.
The announcement comes as Tehran and Washington prepare for a potential sixth round of indirect talks aimed at resolving the protracted dispute surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the original 2015 nuclear accord, recently stated that there could be “good news” regarding the negotiations.
“It is normal that inspectors from hostile countries are not allowed, but if a nuclear deal is reached, we might allow American inspectors working for the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit our nuclear sites,” Eslami said, indicating a possible shift in Iran’s long-standing stance on American involvement in inspections.
At the heart of the dispute is Iran’s uranium enrichment activity. The United States has consistently argued that Tehran’s enrichment program poses a risk of enabling the development of nuclear weapons and insists that enrichment should be reduced to zero. Iran, however, strongly maintains that its nuclear efforts are solely for civilian energy and research purposes, considering the enrichment program non-negotiable.
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“Enrichment is the foundation and pillar of the country’s nuclear industry. Suppose someone is allowed to have an electricity substation and network, but not allowed to establish a power plant,” Eslami stated, underlining Iran’s position that enrichment is essential to its nuclear infrastructure.
The outcome of the upcoming talks may determine not only the future of Iran’s nuclear ambitions but also the scope of international oversight permitted within its borders.
