Monday, 25 May 2026
UN nuclear inspectors withdraw from Iran over safety fears
According to the Wall Street Journal, the United Nations Atomic Agency is withdrawing its inspectors from Iran due to safety concerns, citing sources familiar with the situation.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasized on X the urgent need for discussions with Iran to resume critical monitoring and verification activities in the country as soon as possible.
After remaining in Tehran during the recent conflict between Israel and Iran, the IAEA inspection team will head back to the agency's headquarters in Vienna, the agency confirmed on Friday.
Despite Iran's main airport having returned to routine operations after the 12-day conflict, sources told the WSJ that the inspectors are leaving the country by road.
Earlier this week, Iran’s parliament passed a bill on Wednesday to halt cooperation with the international monitoring body.
According to Nournews, the measure still requires final approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council before it can take effect.
State media quoted Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf as saying that Iran would speed up its civilian nuclear program. He also criticized the IAEA for declining to condemn the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, claiming this reluctance had compromised its global credibility.
“As a result, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran will halt cooperation with the Agency until the security of our nuclear facilities is assured, and will proceed more rapidly with the peaceful development of the nation’s nuclear program,” Qalibaf stated.