IAEA Holds 70th General Conference Amid Tensions Over Iran’s Nuclear Program

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, …

The 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) began on Monday, September 14, 2026, in Vienna. Representatives from 181 member states gathered to deliberate on issues pertaining to nuclear energy, nuclear safety and security, and the agency’s activities. The conference, which is considered the IAEA’s most significant policy-making forum, will continue until September 18.

During the opening ceremony, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced the commencement of the 70th session and welcomed Timor-Leste as the 182nd member state of the agency.

The Iranian nuclear program is also a prominent topic on the conference agenda. Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, was unable to attend the conference due to travel restrictions, a situation that has drawn reactions from Iran and Russia.

Grossi’s Allegations: IAEA Monitoring of Iran’s Nuclear Program Worsened in 2026

In his opening address at the 70th General Conference in Vienna, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi claimed that the agency’s monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program had “worsened” in 2026. Grossi stated that following repeated attacks on Iran in late February, the agency was compelled to withdraw its inspectors from the country. He noted that aside from one inspection at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in June, the IAEA has not conducted any other field verification activities in Iran for over six months.

Grossi further asserted that for over a year, the agency has lost “continuity of knowledge” regarding declared low-enriched uranium and uranium enriched up to 60 percent U-235 at declared Iranian nuclear facilities that were damaged in June 2025 attacks. He alleged that the absence of this information and access to facilities for verification constitutes a serious issue from a nuclear proliferation perspective and requires urgent attention.