IAEA ensures ‘watertight’ inspections in any Iran nuclear deal, warns against strike on Bushehr plant

A picture taken on November 10, 2019, shows workers on a construction site in Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant during an official ceremony to kick-start works for a second reactor at the facility.

Amid renewed diplomatic efforts over Iran’s nuclear program, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said it can guarantee “watertight” nuclear inspections under any potential agreement.

"The IAEA can guarantee through a watertight inspection system that nuclear weapons will not be developed in Iran," Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the UN Security Council.

The IAEA’s assurance comes as tensions rise in the region, with fears of military escalation growing. While acknowledging the risk of conflict, especially with Israel openly considering strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, the agency emphasised that a robust inspection regime remains the best path to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Grossi said the agency is fully prepared to implement a strict verification framework, ensuring that Iran’s nuclear activities stay peaceful and fully monitored. He noted that no radiation leak has been detected so far from Iran’s nuclear facilities but warned that the risk of a nuclear incident is real if military action targets sensitive sites like the Bushehr power plant.

Meanwhile, European powers hoped to offer a "diplomatic solution" as they met with Iran in Geneva on Friday, according to French President Emmanuel Macron.

The meeting, which is expected to focus on Iran's nuclear programme, comes as US President Donald Trump mulls the prospect of entering the war between the two foes.

Israel, saying Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, launched a massive wave of strikes a week ago, triggering an immediate retaliation from Tehran.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will meet his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Geneva "to make a complete diplomatic and technical offer for negotiations", Macron told reporters.

France and its allies Germany and Britain were "putting a diplomatic solution on the table", he added.

On the ground, Israel's military said it struck dozens of targets in Tehran overnight, including what it called a centre for the "research and development of Iran's nuclear weapons project".

In Israel, sirens sounded in the afternoon after missiles were launched from Iran for the second time on Friday, and rescuers reported two injured, including a 16-year-old in serious condition.

A military official said that "approximately 20 missiles were launched towards Israel" in the latest salvo.

On Iranian state TV, a news anchor described footage of "Iranian missiles arriving" in the sky over Israel, as the channel broadcast the footage with military music playing in the background.

Trump has said he would decide "within the next two weeks" whether to involve the United States in the fighting.

Israel, the United States and other Western powers accuse Iran of seeking an atomic weapon, a charge that it denies.