BBC News, Arabic Go to content Main See Listen Main Sections News Economy Health and Science Culture and Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations News Economy Health and Science Culture and Arts World Cup 2026 Investigations The International Atomic Energy Agency calls for a 'deep' verification system in Iran to ensure no nuclear weapons development Photo from: AFP via Getty Images
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, emphasized on Friday the necessity of adopting a 'highly profound' verification system in Iran post-war, to ensure that it does not develop nuclear weapons.
Grossi stated to reporters in Japan: 'I believe that the objective of this agreement (Iranian-American) is to ensure that no nuclear weapons are developed in Iran. The Iranian government has clearly stated that it does not intend to do so.'
He added: 'But intentions are not enough, of course. We must adopt a highly profound verification system... as soon as that becomes possible.'
He noted that the regulatory body has recently begun talks with Iran after reaching a memorandum of understanding with the United States to discuss the fate of its enriched uranium stockpile.
He stated: 'Preliminary talks have taken place... and we expect this work to accelerate soon.'
Iran has long denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, emphasizing that its nuclear program is designated for civilian purposes.
Iran had halted in July visits by the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to its nuclear facilities, following a 12-day bombing campaign by Israel against it, joined by the United States.
The International Maritime Organization affiliated with the United Nations announced the suspension of its program to escort ships and sailors through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship reported what is suspected to be an attack, rekindling concerns about the initial agreement to end the war with Iran.
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The British Maritime Trade Operations Authority stated that the ship reported being attacked near Oman, just hours after Tehran warned vessels against passing through unapproved routes.
Two American officials, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that Iran fired on the ship. However, the Persian Gulf waterway authority, created by Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz, stated in a post on X platform that ships crossing outside the routes it designated would not be guaranteed safe passage.
The ship that was attacked was the 'Ever Lovely' flying the Singapore flag, according to reports, while a security source confirmed it was likely targeted by a drone.
No comment has yet been received from the U.S. government regarding the incident.
The International Maritime Organization has been assisting in getting hundreds of ships and thousands of sailors out of the strait, who've been stranded for months since the outbreak of the war at the end of February.
The Secretary-General of the organization, Arsenio Dominguez, stated in a press release: 'We decided to temporarily suspend the implementation of (the framework) to ensure that the necessary safety guarantees for the ships listed on our evacuation list, and for all ships in the area, remain available.'
The organization clarified that the ship that was potentially attacked was not part of its evacuation program.
The organization stated this week that the initiative, which was launched last Tuesday, is a voluntary option for ships and their crews to sail out of the gulf via two routes: one through Iranian waters and the other through Omani waters, with U.S. supervision.
Before this incident, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated while concluding a Gulf tour that if Iran threatened or prevented vessels from passing through the strait 'we will have a problem.'
However, Tehran has stated that it will continue to exert control over the strait.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard warned today, Thursday, ships against not adhering to the routes designated by Tehran for crossing the strait, rejecting the newly announced maritime routes without coordination with Iran and describing them as 'unacceptable and dangerous.'
The British maritime security company Ambrey also stated that the Revolutionary Guard ordered two ships flying the Panamanian flag to change their course today.
Earlier, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that navigation through the strait is approaching pre-war levels...