Image Credentials: Image Title: IAEA Warns of Growing Concerns Over Lack of Access to Iran’s Nuclear Facilities. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: May 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with agencies
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised fresh concerns about its inability to inspect Iran’s nuclear facilities, warning that the prolonged lack of access is creating serious proliferation risks and increasing uncertainty over the status of Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpiles.
In a confidential report reviewed by international media outlets, the United Nations nuclear watchdog urged Iranian authorities to provide immediate clarification regarding the location and condition of nuclear materials that were under agency safeguards before military strikes targeted several Iranian nuclear sites last year.
The report highlights what the agency described as an unprecedented verification challenge following attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure by Israel and the United States in June 2025.
Uranium Stockpile Remains Unaccounted For
Before the strikes, the IAEA estimated that Iran possessed approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, a level significantly above the limits established under the 2015 nuclear agreement and much closer to weapons-grade material.
Since inspectors lost access to key facilities, the agency has been unable to independently verify the status of those stockpiles.
“The agency’s lack of access to verify the previously declared highly enriched uranium and low-enriched uranium for nearly a year, which is long overdue according to standard safeguard practices, is a matter of proliferation concern,” the report stated.
The IAEA emphasized that while the military attacks created exceptional circumstances, the restoration of monitoring and verification activities remains essential.
Calls for Immediate Cooperation
The agency urged Iran to allow inspectors to resume their work without further delay and to provide detailed information regarding the fate of nuclear material that was previously declared under international safeguards.
“While the agency acknowledged that the military attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and sites have created an unprecedented situation, the agency must conduct verification activities in Iran without delay,” the report said.
The watchdog stressed that maintaining transparency is essential to ensuring that nuclear materials remain accounted for and are not diverted toward military purposes.
Rising International Concerns
The issue comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the region.
The inability of inspectors to access facilities for nearly a year has fueled concerns among Western governments and non-proliferation experts about the potential gaps in international oversight.
Although Iran has repeatedly maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes, international scrutiny has intensified as enrichment levels have increased and monitoring has become more limited.
Discussion at Upcoming IAEA Meeting
The report is expected to be a central topic during next week’s meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, where member states will assess the situation and consider possible next steps.
Diplomats are expected to press for renewed cooperation between Tehran and the agency, while seeking assurances that nuclear materials remain under proper control.
The outcome of those discussions could play a significant role in shaping future diplomatic efforts involving Iran’s nuclear program and broader regional security concerns.