Iran’s Nuclear Trajectory Amid Renewed US Statements and International Scrutiny

Iran’s Nuclear Program Under Heightened International Scrutiny Recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Iran’s “strong desire” to reach a nuclear agreement have coincided with a significant development in Vienna, where the IAEA Board of Governors adopted a new resolution calling on Iran to grant inspectors full access to its nuclear facilities and enriched uranium stockpiles. The resolution, tabled jointly by the United States and the E3 (France, Germany, United Kingdom), was approved on 20 November 2025 and urges Tehran to implement the Additional Protocol, enabling intrusive inspections of undeclared sites. Trump’s remarks, in which he alluded to previously undisclosed communications with Tehran, framed Iran as “eager” to return to negotiations. These comments emerged amid growing pressure on Iran following the passage of the resolution. In response, Kamal Kharrazi, senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader and head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, reaffirmed that Iran would not abandon uranium enrichment. He cited domestic needs for reactor fuel and medical applications, while stressing that “enrichment levels are negotiable.” Kharrazi emphasized that Iran’s nuclear program is indigenous, rooted in local scientific expertise, and “cannot be dismantled by force.” He further revealed that Tehran is assessing a Russian–Chinese mediation proposal aimed at restoring cooperation between Iran and the IAEA. Iranian officials warned of U.S.–European intentions to introduce a follow-up resolution compelling compliance. Meanwhile, reporting by the Financial Times has highlighted newly surfaced documents indicating a second covert visit by scientists tied to Iran’s SPND organization to Russia in November 2024. Their meetings with the sanctioned Laser Systems Institute reportedly focused on dual-use high-precision laser technologies capable of modelling nuclear weapons tests without live detonations — a finding likely to intensify scrutiny of Russian–Iranian technical cooperation. The newly adopted IAEA resolution represents one of the most consequential developments in Iran’s nuclear file since the summer strikes on Iranian sites. Passed with 19 votes in favor, opposed by Russia, China, and Niger, and with 12 abstentions, the resolution demands detailed explanations of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium inventory and access to facilities targeted in the U.S.–Israeli attacks in June. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that routine inspections have resumed at unaffected sites but reiterated that inspectors have been denied access to the locations struck earlier this year. Grossi urged Iran to engage more constructively and provide full access in line with its safeguards obligations. Tehran’s mission in Vienna condemned the resolution as a “strategic error” and an attempt to “politicize” the agency’s work. It warned that the resolution would inevitably affect the trajectory of Iran–IAEA cooperation, arguing that post-Resolution 2231 oversight should remain confined to safeguards obligations alone. In Tehran, the head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Ebrahim Azizi, denied the existence of current Iran–U.S. negotiations, while acknowledging Iran’s enduring willingness to negotiate if national interests are respected. Azizi reiterated that Washington continues to frame Iran as its “top national security threat,” and stressed that the Foreign Ministry implements foreign policy rather than determining it. Together, these developments point to an increasingly complex landscape surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, with diplomatic maneuvering, international pressure, and evolving Iran–Russia cooperation shaping the outlook for the months ahead.