Seoul

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog on Wednesday said any future US-Iran agreement aimed at ending the war in the Middle East must include strict and highly detailed verification measures for Iran’s nuclear programme.

Rafael Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said robust inspections would be essential to ensure compliance.

“Iran has a very ambitious, wide nuclear programme so all of that will require the presence of IAEA inspectors,” Grossi told reporters in Seoul. “Otherwise, you will not have an agreement. You will have an illusion of an agreement.”

He said any deal involving nuclear technology must contain “very detailed verification mechanisms.”

His remarks came after Donald Trump said a second round of talks with Iran could take place within two days.

The Trump administration has stated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a key objective of the conflict. Iran has repeatedly said it is not developing nuclear weapons, while rejecting broad limits on its programme.

An initial round of talks held in Pakistan last weekend ended without an agreement. The White House said Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a central obstacle, though an Iranian diplomatic official denied that claim.

According to a confidential IAEA report circulated to member states and previously seen by AP, Iran has not allowed agency access to nuclear facilities struck by Israel and the United States during a 12-day war in June.

The report said the IAEA could not verify whether Iran had suspended all uranium enrichment activities or determine the size of its uranium stockpile at affected sites.

Iran has long maintained its nuclear programme is peaceful. However, the IAEA and Western governments say Tehran had an organised weapons programme until 2003.

The agency estimates Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity — close to weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.

Grossi has previously said that quantity could be enough for as many as 10 nuclear bombs if Iran chose to weaponise the material.

Under IAEA guidelines, such highly enriched material should normally be verified every month.

Seoul, Apr 15 (AP) The head of the UN nuclear watchdog on Wednesday said any future US-Iran agreement aimed at ending the war in the Middle East must include strict and highly detailed verification measures for Iran’s nuclear programme.

Rafael Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said robust inspections would be essential to ensure compliance.

“Iran has a very ambitious, wide nuclear programme so all of that will require the presence of IAEA inspectors,” Grossi told reporters in Seoul. “Otherwise, you will not have an agreement. You will have an illusion of an agreement.”

He said any deal involving nuclear technology must contain “very detailed verification mechanisms.”

His remarks came after Donald Trump said a second round of talks with Iran could take place within two days.

The Trump administration has stated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a key objective of the conflict. Iran has repeatedly said it is not developing nuclear weapons, while rejecting broad limits on its programme.

An initial round of talks held in Pakistan last weekend ended without an agreement. The White House said Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a central obstacle, though an Iranian diplomatic official denied that claim.

According to a confidential IAEA report circulated to member states and previously seen by AP, Iran has not allowed agency access to nuclear facilities struck by Israel and the United States during a 12-day war in June.

The report said the IAEA could not verify whether Iran had suspended all uranium enrichment activities or determine the size of its uranium stockpile at affected sites.

Iran has long maintained its nuclear programme is peaceful. However, the IAEA and Western governments say Tehran had an organised weapons programme until 2003.

The agency estimates Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity — close to weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.

Grossi has previously said that quantity could be enough for as many as 10 nuclear bombs if Iran chose to weaponise the material.

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Under IAEA guidelines, such highly enriched material should normally be verified every month.