The U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi signaled that inspectors will visit Iran's nuclear sites as a result of Washington and Tehran's memorandum of understanding to end the war, in contrast with the country's rejection that such a scenario will take place.
Speaking in a press conference at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Grossi said: "I can understand political statements, they are part of the reality, but the fundamental thing I would like to remind you and draw your attention to is that there has been a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by both presidents."
He went on to note that the document's wording "says explicitly that the nuclear activities that are going to be carried out with the regards to the nuclear material facilities will be supervised by the IAEA — in all letters."
"Obviously, to do that, we will have to inspect. Whether this happens the day after tomorrow or in one week or in 10 days, it's important, but not essential. This is going to happen," he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump had also rejected Tehran's claims about not allowing nuclear inspections from the U.N. watchdog despite the deal.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump claimed that "Despite their protestations and false statements to the contrary, coupled with the drumbeat of the Fake News, which is doing everything possible to make the U.S. Victory as small and insignificant as possible, Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!)."
He went on to say that the agreement will ensure "Nuclear Honesty" and, had Tehran not agreed to it, "there would be no further negotiations."
Trump added that based on "this and other major concessions being made by Iran, I have agreed to allow the Hormuz Strait to remain OPEN, with no further Naval Blockade" but warned the situation could change, even if such scenario "seems, at this point, highly unlikely."
The publication followed remarks from Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqhaei, who said officials did not have a "meeting with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nor do we have any plans for the agency to inspect Iran's nuclear facilities damaged by the U.S. and Zionist military aggression."
The official went on to say that addressing nuclear issues is conditional "upon the implementation of specific clauses of the memorandum."
"We are currently working to ensure that all these clauses are fulfilled as prerequisites for the start of negotiations," he added.
The U.S. on Monday had said it was authorizing the sale of Iranian oil as a result of the country reopening the Strait of Hormuz and allowing the visit of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors.
