Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have finalized an agreement to continue cooperation under new conditions, following months of strained relations and reduced access for inspectors.

At a joint press conference in Cairo on September 9, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking alongside IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, announced the finalization of a new cooperation framework after weeks of negotiations. He described it as a “practical mechanism” that reflects both Iran’s security concerns and the UN nuclear watchdog’s technical requirements.

The minister said the agreement represents a “significant step” in Iran’s continued commitment to resolving nuclear issues through diplomacy, despite what he called “illegal and criminal attacks” on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to Tasnim News Agency.

Araghchi noted that U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites during the 12-day war in June had fundamentally changed the conditions under which Iran could cooperate with the IAEA.

On June 22, the U.S. bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. A week later, the Iranian parliament passed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA. The law prohibited IAEA inspectors from entering Iran unless explicitly authorized by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

Araghchi argued that the existing safeguards agreement under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was not designed for such “unprecedented circumstances,” and that no precedent exists for cooperation between the IAEA and a member state whose safeguarded facilities have been deliberately targeted. 

He said the new framework was the result of intensive negotiations aimed at preserving safeguards while addressing Iran’s security concerns. However, he warned that any “hostile” action – including the reactivation of UN Security Council resolutions – would nullify the agreement.

Araghchi also thanked Egypt for hosting the talks and praised Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty for his diplomatic efforts. In recent months, Egypt has joined regional mediators such as Oman and Qatar in addressing Iran’s nuclear issue, particularly in relation to its cooperation with the IAEA.

On August 28, France, Germany, and the UK (E3) triggered the snapback mechanism of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), after warning Iran that it needed to make significant progress in talks with the U.S. by the end of the month.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghai said on September 8 that the U.S. had threatened to withdraw funding for the IAEA if the Agency’s General Conference approves a resolution proposed by Iran.

Baghai’s comments come ahead of the 69th IAEA General Conference, which begins on September 15, where Iran plans to introduce a resolution condemning attacks on nuclear facilities.

While Iran’s three enrichment sites were badly damaged or destroyed in the Israeli and U.S. bombing campaigns, the status of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains unclear. This material – enriched up to 60%, just short of the roughly 90% required for weapons-grade uranium – is among the most sensitive in Iran’s program.

A confidential IAEA report sent to member states on September 3, and seen by Reuters, stated that on the day Israel launched its attacks, Iran held 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to that level – slightly more than previously reported.