IAEA chief says Iran deal ‘just a piece of paper’ without agency oversight

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said any agreement between Iran and the United States will require the agency’s involvement to be credible, Le Monde reported on Wednesday.

“Without us, any agreement is just a piece of paper,” Grossi said in an interview ahead of his visit to Tehran, where he is expected to meet Iranian officials amid renewed nuclear diplomacy.

Grossi confirmed that while the IAEA is not directly involved in the recent talks between Tehran and Washington, informal consultations have begun. He emphasized that the agency would need to assess any final deal and determine verification measures.

“There needs to be a robust verification and monitoring system that only we can provide,” he said.