Iran has barred inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from nuclear facilities damaged in recent attacks. Open Source Intel reported the move in an unverified flash. Isfahan is among the sites still closed to the inspectors.
The IAEA responded that physical access to Iran's nuclear sites cannot be replaced. The agency said it must be allowed into Isfahan and must receive information about the facility.
Inspector access has also been part of mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran. On October 20, the Arabic-language newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported on a compromise framework proposed by Pakistan and Qatar. Under the plan, Iran would receive $6 billion in interest from frozen Iranian funds held in Qatari banks in exchange for a step on oversight of its nuclear program.
Sources involved in the contacts told the paper that the United States had approved the framework. They said Iran had given preliminary agreement in principle, including to a secret visit by IAEA inspectors to nuclear sites.
The Wall Street Journal separately reported that mediators were weighing a deal to free part of Iran's frozen funds abroad, with interest, if Tehran made nuclear concessions. One of those concessions would be allowing IAEA inspectors back into the country.
Iranian leaders have also voiced security concerns about the inspections. On October 5, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed that IAEA visits lead to Iran's nuclear facilities and scientists being identified. He said bombings of the facilities and assassinations of scientists follow. Iran has previously accused Israel of killing nuclear scientists and striking its nuclear facilities.
