While hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough, Tehran emphasized on Wednesday that its newly announced agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to resume nuclear inspections remains provisional and subject to further negotiation.
The agreement framework was reached in Cairo talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. “Iran and the IAEA have reached a mutual understanding on how to proceed under the new circumstances,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei.
The deal follows Iran’s suspension of IAEA access in June after US-Israeli strikes targeted its nuclear sites, escalating tensions over transparency and oversight.
Grossi hailed the meeting as “an important step in the right direction,” adding, “Today in Cairo, we agreed with the Iranian foreign minister on practical mechanisms to resume inspections in Iran.”
But in Tehran, officials later clarified that the framework is not yet final. They said inspectors will only return after technical details and political guarantees are settled, reflecting ongoing disputes over uranium enrichment levels and sanctions relief. The foreign ministry described the Cairo outcome as a platform for dialogue, not a finished deal.
On June 13, 2025, Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on Iran, triggering a short but intense war. The US joined on June 22, striking Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. The 12-day conflict ended only after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire agreement.
In the wake of the fighting, indirect negotiations between Iran and the US, mediated by Oman, collapsed when Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran. Iran had also suspended its collaboration with the IAEA, citing bias toward Israel.
In July, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz threatened renewed action against Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian shot back defiantly, declaring that Tehran was ready for any new Israeli assault.
“Our forces are prepared to strike deep into the occupied territories once again,” Pezeshkian said. He dismissed dismantling Iran’s nuclear program as “pure fantasy,” insisting the country’s nuclear capabilities reside “not only in facilities but in the minds of our scientists.”
Katz, in a briefing with senior Israeli commanders, reiterated the prospect of a fresh offensive.
Diplomatic overtures in Cairo
Egypt welcomed the Cairo talks, voicing hope they could pave the way for broader discussions on Iran’s nuclear program. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said in a joint press conference with Araqchi and Grossi that the understanding “could bring viewpoints closer and lead to a framework for renewed negotiations between Iran and the United States in pursuit of a comprehensive, mutually satisfactory deal.”
The Cairo meeting also marks a shift in regional diplomacy. Relations between Cairo and Tehran have warmed after decades of hostility. Egypt cut ties with Iran in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution and Cairo’s hosting of the ousted Shah. Though relations were later restored at the level of interest sections, full normalization has remained elusive.
Araqchi’s 2024 visit to Cairo signals further rapprochement between Egypt and Iran. After Egypt’s 2011 revolution, unsteady contact resumed, with then-President Mohamed Morsi visiting Tehran in 2012.
A year later, Iran’s then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad traveled to Cairo—the first such visit since 1979. In recent months, Egyptian and Iranian ministers have met repeatedly at international events, exploring the possibility of deepening bilateral ties.
