Urgent need for access to Iranian sites, cautions UN nuclear watchdog

What the report says

The International Atomic Energy Agency has warned that it urgently needs access to Iranian nuclear sites and clearer information on Iran’s nuclear material, saying the gaps create a proliferation concern. The warning appeared in a quarterly report seen by news agencies and was reported by Al Jazeera on September 1, 2026.

The report specifically highlighted difficulty in reaching the Isfahan nuclear plant, which has been struck multiple times by the United States and Israel over the past year. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the long-running disputes over these issues should be resolved through a durable and verifiable diplomatic agreement.

Iran has said access to bombed sites should be handled through special arrangements. According to the article, Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said on August 26 that inspectors should not visit targeted sites until specific criteria and protocols are set. Tehran had suspended cooperation with the UN watchdog after US and Israeli attacks in June 2025, then later said inspectors could return, but access has still not been granted.

The issue matters because the IAEA says Iran’s enriched uranium remains unaccounted for and its latest report will be reviewed by its board of governors later in September. The article also notes the long-running dispute over whether Iran’s program is solely civilian, which Tehran denies is aimed at making weapons.