IAEA Chief: Robust Verification Crucial for Any Iran Nuclear Deal International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi stated that any agreement to limit Iran's nuclear program must include stringent international oversight and detailed verification mechanisms. He criticized the JCPOA as ineffective and highlighted Iran's lack of cooperation with inspections. His comments come amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and military operations targeting Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stressed on Wednesday that any agreement to curb Iran's illicit nuclear activities hinges on the country's commitment to rigorous international oversight. Grossi articulated that without highly detailed verification processes confirming Iran's adherence to limitations on uranium enrichment for civilian purposes and prohibition of any forbidden nuclear endeavors, a genuine agreement would be unattainable. He characterized the alternative as an illusion of an agreement. The IAEA, as the United Nations' foremost nuclear development authority, plays a crucial role in this matter. Grossi's statements carry considerable weight due to his consistent criticism over the years of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, brokered during the Obama administration. He has repeatedly highlighted Iran's obstruction of IAEA inspections at its nuclear facilities, even revealing last year that Iranian officials appeared to have deliberately concealed evidence of their activities by sanitizing sensitive locations. His latest report on Iran and the JCPOA preceded a period where the IAEA was reportedly considering a replacement for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with Grossi himself receiving support from his home country, Argentina, a nation that experienced its deadliest terrorist attack in the Western Hemisphere before September 11, 2001, at the hands of Iran. Speaking in South Korea on Friday, Grossi firmly dismissed the notion of an accord to resolve the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran that does not incorporate robust IAEA inspections. He explained that Iran's extensive and ambitious nuclear program necessitates the constant presence of IAEA inspectors. The agency chief underscored that any potential nuclear agreement would demand the implementation of a highly detailed verification mechanism. His comments come amidst heightened tensions and military engagements. President Donald Trump had announced Operation Epic Fury on February 28, a military operation aimed at diminishing Iran's regional threat capabilities, with specific targets including its missile and drone program and its leadership. On the same day, President Trump also declared the elimination of Iran's longtime supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In parallel operations with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the current conflict saw Iran express a willingness to initiate negotiations aimed at ending hostilities, with Pakistan acting as a mediator. As part of these diplomatic efforts, Washington announced a two-week ceasefire to facilitate the talks. However, following weekend meetings, President Trump announced that no agreement had been reached. While the ceasefire remained in effect, the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian commerce passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate that the negotiations are primarily focused on compelling Iran to cease its illicit nuclear development and potentially establish a new, more robust, and verifiable agreement to replace the JCPOA, a deal Iran has consistently flouted. Grossi, in his capacity as IAEA chief, a role that should have afforded consistent inspection access to Iranian nuclear facilities under the Obama-era deal, had long warned that the agreement was practically defunct. President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018, citing Iranian violations, did not deter remaining signatories like China and several European nations from maintaining their commitment to the accord. Grossi noted that attempts to revive the deal in Vienna, though nearing success, ultimately failed for reasons he could not ascertain due to his non-involvement. In May 2025, shortly before President Trump ordered a series of American airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, Grossi expressed his deep concern over the Iranian leadership's continued refusal to grant the IAEA access to critical sites. He submitted a report to the IAEA Board of Governors that, despite being incomplete due to Iran's uncooperative stance, accused the country of maintaining undeclared nuclear sites which it attempted to conceal from the agency. Grossi stated that Iran had repeatedly failed to provide satisfactory or technically credible responses to the Agency’s inquiries and had actively worked to sanitize locations, thereby hindering verification activities. The IAEA Board of Governors subsequently found Iran guilty in a resolution for numerous failures to meet its obligations since 2019, specifically its lack of full and timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear materials and activities at multiple undisclosed sites. In a March 20 interview with CBS News, Grossi cautioned that even following the 2025 airstrikes and Operation Epic Fury, Iran possessed the capability to swiftly re-establish its illicit enrichment sites