LIVE: IAEA Director Grossi holds media briefing

New MOU establishes IAEA supervision mandate

The recently signed memorandum of understanding explicitly designates the IAEA to supervise and control implementation of the forthcoming technical agreement between the parties.

60-day negotiation window requires status quo

Iran must maintain the status quo of its nuclear program during the 60-day period while final technical details are negotiated and verified.

Access terms to be defined in imminent technical talks

Specific inspection locations and access protocols will be determined through technical discussions rather than being predetermined in the current framework.

Downblending enriched uranium is central technical challenge

The potential requirement to dilute Iran's 60% enriched uranium stockpile down to 3-5% levels represents a primary focus, though specific parameters remain subject to negotiation.

Timeline ranges from months to years depending on scope

The duration of verification activities will vary significantly based on the final agreed workload, with more extensive downblending requiring substantially more time.

Deployment size contingent on final agreement terms

The IAEA will deploy precisely the technical resources required by the final agreement, with the magnitude of operations determined by specific verification provisions.

Rejected accusations that IAEA reports triggered conflict

Grossi dismissed claims that previous IAEA reports caused the 12-day war against Iran, characterizing such assertions as political opinions that contradict the agency's technical impartiality.

Explained differential legal treatment of Iran versus Israel

The IAEA applies safeguards only to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty members like Iran, while non-members such as Israel fall outside the agency's legal verification framework despite possessing nuclear weapons.

Refused to condemn nations maintaining strict technical focus

The agency neither condemns countries nor takes political positions, instead focusing solely on verifying compliance with technical safeguards obligations.

Global nuclear weapons spending surged 19% to $119 billion

Recent data indicates nuclear-armed states increased military expenditures by nearly one-fifth last year, signaling a reversal of disarmament trends amid growing geopolitical fragmentation.

IAEA faces resource strain from multiple simultaneous crises

The agency currently maintains operations across Ukraine's facilities, protects the Baraka plant in the Gulf, and prepares for expanded Iran monitoring, potentially requiring additional international support.

NPT universality remains critical gap in non-proliferation regime

Grossi reiterated the urgent necessity for universal adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, noting that non-parties operate outside the international safeguards system.