Iran said Thursday that it has no intention of abandoning uranium enrichment or surrendering its enriched uranium stockpile, as tensions continue with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said uranium enrichment is a fundamental part of developing a nuclear industry. Speaking to reporters, he firmly rejected the possibility of Tehran ending enrichment, saying it would not give up what it considers a legitimate technological right.
Eslami also dismissed the possibility of handing Iran’s enriched uranium reserves to another party. He argued that maintaining a domestic nuclear industry requires control over the entire enrichment process.
On cooperation with the IAEA, Eslami said inspectors cannot access Iranian nuclear facilities that were damaged in US-Israeli attacks while security threats remain. He said Iranian laws have placed restrictions on inspections because of concerns over the safety of nuclear facilities, scientists and other personnel.
According to Eslami, IAEA inspectors have nevertheless visited nuclear sites that were not damaged in the attacks and conducted routine inspections under arrangements approved by Tehran. He accused the agency of failing to properly recognize these visits and claimed that the US and Israel were pressuring the IAEA to obtain information about damaged Iranian facilities.
The dispute comes as Tehran and the IAEA remain at odds over access to nuclear sites affected by military strikes.
Iranian lawmakers approved legislation in June 2025 suspending cooperation with the IAEA after Israeli and US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Under the legislation, inspections require security guarantees and approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Iran’s Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan nuclear facilities were targeted during the June 2025 conflict, while Natanz was struck again during US-Israeli attacks in March 2026.
In June, the IAEA Board of Governors called on Iran to provide information about its enriched uranium reserves and allow inspectors to verify the nuclear material. The agency has said that restricted access prevents it from confirming the current location and status of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.
Tehran continues to maintain that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and argues that uranium enrichment is a legitimate right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
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