Why in news?
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran reached a breakthrough agreement in September 2025 that allows inspectors to resume monitoring Iranian nuclear facilities, including sites damaged in recent strikes.
Key features
- Resumption of inspections: IAEA inspectors will again access all Iranian nuclear facilities to verify nuclear materials and activities.
- Coverage of damaged sites: The deal includes inspection of sites attacked in June 2025, ensuring that no undeclared activities are hidden behind the damage.
- Legal basis: The agreement is framed under the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, which Iran is obliged to follow.
- Mediation: Egypt played an important role in brokering the accord.
- Conditional implementation: Iran has stated that the arrangement depends on the absence of further hostile actions or new sanctions.
Why it matters
- Averts sanctions: The deal forestalls the immediate imposition of United Nations sanctions on Iran.
- Revives diplomacy: It opens a window for renewed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and broader Middle East security.
- Maintains NPT framework: By staying within the Non‑Proliferation Treaty, Iran signals that it is not abandoning international nuclear norms.
For students, this development is relevant to topics such as international relations, nuclear governance and the role of global institutions like the IAEA.