Grossi Says Iran Pledges More Access for Inspectors

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi (R) meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi (2ndR) in Tehran on March 4, 2023. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / Iranian Presidency / AFP)
A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi (R) meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi (2ndR) in Tehran on March 4, 2023. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / Iranian Presidency / AFP)
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Grossi Says Iran Pledges More Access for Inspectors

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi (R) meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi (2ndR) in Tehran on March 4, 2023. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / Iranian Presidency / AFP)
A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency shows Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi (R) meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi (2ndR) in Tehran on March 4, 2023. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / Iranian Presidency / AFP)

The head of the UN's nuclear agency said Saturday that Iran pledged to restore cameras and other monitoring equipment at its nuclear sites and to allow more inspections at a facility where particles of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade were recently detected.

But a joint statement issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran's nuclear body only gave vague assurances that Tehran would address longstanding complaints about the access it gives the watchdog's inspectors to its disputed nuclear program.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other top officials in Tehran earlier Saturday.

“Over the past few months, there was a reduction in some of the monitoring activities" related to cameras and other equipment “which were not operating,” Grossi told reporters upon his return to Vienna. “We have agreed that those will be operating again.”

He did not provide details about which equipment would be restored or how soon it would happen, but appeared to be referring to Iran's removal of surveillance cameras from its nuclear sites in June 2022, during an earlier standoff with the IAEA.

“These are not words. This is very concrete," Grossi said of the assurances he received in Tehran.

His first visit to Iran in a year came days after the IAEA reported that uranium particles enriched up to 83.7% — just short of weapons-grade — were found in Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear site.

The confidential quarterly report by the nuclear watchdog, which was distributed to member nations Tuesday, came as tensions were already high amid months of anti-government protests in Iran and Western anger at its export of attack drones to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine.

The IAEA report said inspectors in January found that two cascades of IR-6 centrifuges at Fordo were configured in a way “substantially different” to what Iran had previously declared. That raised concerns that Iran was speeding up its enrichment.

Grossi said the Iranians had agreed to boost inspections at the facility by 50%. He also confirmed the agency's findings that there has not been any “production or accumulation” of uranium at the higher enrichment level, “which is a very high level.”

Iran has sought to portray any highly enriched uranium particles as a minor byproduct of enriching uranium to 60% purity, which it has been doing openly for some time.

The chief of Iran’s nuclear program, Mohammad Eslami, acknowledged the findings of the IAEA report at a news conference with Grossi in Tehran but said their “ambiguity” had been resolved.



Indonesia Ready to Shelter Palestinians Impacted by War in Gaza

Tents for displaced Palestinians are set up at the Islamic University of Gaza compound amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Tents for displaced Palestinians are set up at the Islamic University of Gaza compound amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
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Indonesia Ready to Shelter Palestinians Impacted by War in Gaza

Tents for displaced Palestinians are set up at the Islamic University of Gaza compound amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Tents for displaced Palestinians are set up at the Islamic University of Gaza compound amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Indonesia is ready to temporarily shelter Palestinians hit by the war in Gaza, President Prabowo Subianto said on Wednesday, estimating there could be 1,000 in the first wave, as he started a trip to the Middle East and Türkiye.

Prabowo said he has instructed his foreign minister to quickly discuss with the Palestinian side and other parties about how to evacuate impacted Palestinians to Indonesia.

"We are ready to evacuate the wounded, the traumatized, the orphans," Prabowo said, adding the victims would be in Indonesia temporarily until they have fully recovered from their injuries and the situation in Gaza was safe for their return.

Jakarta has been advocating for a two-state solution and has sent humanitarian aid.
Indonesia wants to increase its role in seeking a resolution to the conflict, Prabowo said, adding this plan is not easy.
"Indonesia's commitment in supporting the safety of Palestinians and their independence has pushed our government to act more actively," Prabowo said, as he was about to embark on an overseas trip which includes Türkiye, Egypt and Qatar, Reuters reported.
Prabowo's comment comes two months after Indonesia's foreign ministry said it "strongly rejects any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians" as US President Donald Trump suggested permanently moving Palestinians out of Gaza.
Indonesia was willing to send peacekeeping troops to Gaza if needed, Prabowo said last year before he officially assumed the presidency.