Nuke Inspectors Withdraw from Iran Amid Accusations of Espionage and Escalating Tensions

VIENNA/TEHRAN — Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have officially left Iran following the country’s decision to suspend cooperation with the UN-affiliated nuclear watchdog. The move comes in the aftermath of coordinated Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which sparked a 12-day regional conflict and heightened global nuclear security concerns.

The IAEA confirmed Friday that its personnel, who had been stationed in Tehran during the military hostilities, are now returning to Agency headquarters in Vienna.

“Inspectors will return to the Agency headquarters in Vienna, after staying in Tehran throughout the recent military conflict,” the agency said in a statement.

Tensions Boil Over After Strikes on Nuclear Sites

Tehran halted collaboration with the IAEA shortly after what it described as aggressive and unlawful military action carried out by Israel — with U.S. involvement — targeting Iranian nuclear scientists and uranium enrichment facilities. The attacks were triggered one day after the IAEA publicly accused Iran of violating key nuclear safeguards, though no concrete evidence was presented at the time.

In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes, escalating the confrontation before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire brought an uneasy end to the conflict.

President Donald Trump declared in a July 2 statement that Iran’s nuclear program had been “obliterated” by American precision strikes — a claim that Iran’s leadership swiftly denied.

Allegations of IAEA Collusion

Iranian officials have long accused the IAEA of serving the interests of its geopolitical adversaries. In recent statements, Tehran claimed that IAEA personnel provided Israel with intelligence, including the identities of nuclear scientists and the locations of sensitive facilities — intelligence allegedly used in the June strikes.

The Russian government has backed Iran’s criticism. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova labeled the agency’s conduct “a colossal blow to its credibility,” stating that its inspection data was likely used in planning the attacks.

Safety and Diplomacy in Question

According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, the IAEA pulled its personnel from Iran over security concerns, as inspectors were no longer able to access nuclear sites during or after the conflict.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has urged the international community to re-engage with Iran diplomatically, emphasizing the need to restore transparency, inspections, and monitoring as soon as conditions allow.

“We must find a way to resume our verification activities,” Grossi said, warning that prolonged disruption could deepen nuclear uncertainty in the region.

As diplomatic efforts stall and accusations continue to fly, the future of nuclear oversight in Iran — and broader regional stability — remains increasingly fragile.