U.N. pulls nuclear inspectors out of Iran for safety reasons

The United Nations atomic agency is pulling its inspectors out of Iran over safety concerns, severing the link between the agency and Tehran, which earlier this week suspended cooperation with the international monitor, according to people familiar with the matter.

- Laurence Norman

The International Atomic Energy Agency's team of inspectors were driven by road out of Iran on Friday despite international departures from Iran's main airports resuming normal operations in the wake of a 12-day conflict with Israel, two of the people said.

The inspectors have been housed in Tehran unable to visit Iran's nuclear sites since Israel attacked the country on June 13. They were housed at a hotel in the capital but may have later moved to a U.N. location, according to one of the people.

Iran has ratcheted up years-old rhetoric against the agency since then and there have been death threats against IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi from lawmakers and regime-tied media.

The IAEA later confirmed the inspectors' departure. In a tweet on X, the agency said Grossi "reiterated the crucial importance of the IAEA discussing with Iran modalities for resuming its indispensable monitoring and verification activities in Iran as soon as possible."

Their departure makes the prospect of any significant international access to Iran's nuclear sites extremely unlikely, allowing it to carry out nuclear work unchecked. Iran's activities are, however, being watched closely by Western and Israeli intelligence agencies, and the IAEA has access to satellite imagery of its sites. It also raises the prospect of a standoff over Iran's participation in the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which bans it from nuclear weapons and requires regular inspections of its atomic program.