Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency signed an agreement Tuesday in Cairo to pave the way for resuming cooperation, including on ways of relaunching inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The announcement followed a meeting among Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi.

It was the first meeting between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog since Tehran suspended cooperation with the agency two months ago.

The meeting came at a sensitive time as on August 28, France, Germany and the United Kingdom began the process of reimposing sanctions on Iran over what they deemed to be non-compliance with a 2015 agreement aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

On July 2, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law adopted by his country’s parliament suspending all cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, accusing it of effectively paving the way for Israel’s strikes on its nuclear facilities during a 12-day war in June.

The only site inspected by the IAEA since the war has been the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which operates with Russian technical assistance. Inspectors watched a fuel replacement procedure at the plant over two days, starting August 27.

IAEA inspectors have been unable to verify Iran’s near bomb-grade stockpile since the start of the war on June 13, which the UN nuclear watchdog described as “a matter of serious concern.”

Egypt has been helping bolster cooperation between Iran and the IAEA.

The Iranian foreign ministry said last month that talks between its country and the agency would be “technical” and “complicated.”

Grossi hailed the new framework agreement with Iran on Tuesday, calling it an “important step in the right direction.”

A day earlier, the IAEA chief had said that time was running out to secure an agreement, and that while progress had been made, no deal had been clinched.

In a post on X, he said he agreed with Araghchi in Cairo “on practical modalities to resume inspection activities in Iran.”

Egypt’s Abdelatty welcomed the cooperation framework and expressed hope that it would open a “new path” to talks over Iran’s nuclear program.

At a joint press conference in Cairo with Araghchi and Grossi, he said he hoped the deal would first “enable an understanding” with European powers who have threatened to reimpose sanctions, and then “lead to a return to the negotiation table between Iran and the United States.”

Israel said its sweeping June assault on Iran’s top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites, and ballistic missile program was necessary to prevent the Islamic Republic from realizing its avowed plan to destroy the Jewish state.

Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. However, it enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities. Israel said Iran had recently taken steps toward weaponization.

Iran retaliated to the Israeli and US strikes by launching over 500 ballistic missiles and around 1,100 drones at Israel.

The Iranian attacks killed 31 people and wounded over 3,000 in Israel, according to health officials and hospitals.

Iran said over 1,000 people were killed during the war. However, the toll cannot be verified. Israel said it targeted military and nuclear figures and sites.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.