TEHERAN - Iran's Supreme National Security Council has approved the return of inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday.

He told state news agency IRNA the inspectors were allowed in to oversee the replacement of fuel at the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Araghchi also denied reports that Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had agreed on a new cooperation framework, saying no text had been finalized despite exchanges of proposals.

ALSO READ: Iran conditions IAEA inspectors' return on security council approval

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday the agency's inspectors had returned to Iran for the first time since being expelled during the June conflict. "Now the first team of IAEA inspectors is back in Iran, and we are about to restart," he said.

Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA in early July after President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a parliament bill curbing access to nuclear sites. The move followed Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Teheran accused the agency, and Grossi in particular, of siding with the West and failing to condemn the attacks.

READ MORE: Iran's foreign minister warns E3 against sanctions revival

The restrictions, which require Supreme National Security Council approval for inspector visits, have drawn concern from the UN secretary-general and renewed Israeli calls for the reinstatement of UN sanctions on Iran.

Britain, France, and Germany have linked Iran's cooperation with the IAEA to their decision on whether to trigger the UN snapback sanctions mechanism by the end of August. Teheran has rejected the legality of such a move.